'Wayward' Review: Netflix’s Creepy, Clever Teen Thriller Balances Heart, Horror, and Humour
- Romey Norton
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - September 10, 2025
Netflix’s fall slate always promises a few unexpected gems, and this year’s standout may very well be Wayward, the new limited thriller series from Mae Martin. Best known for their sharp wit in the rom-com Feel Good and their stand-up (SAP), Martin makes a bold pivot here, trading punchlines for paranoia and jokes for jump scares. The result is an atmospheric, genre-bending eight-episode ride that’s as unnerving as it is surprisingly heartfelt.
What is the series Wayward about?
Set in Tall Pines, a picturesque small town where everything looks a little too perfect, Wayward wastes no time shattering that illusion. Mae Martin stars as police officer Alex Dempsey, who relocates with his pregnant wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), to her quaint hometown. Their attempt at a fresh start quickly turns into something much darker when Alex stumbles upon Tall Pines Academy, a “troubled teen” facility run by the enigmatic Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette).
Soon Alex connects with two students, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who are desperate to escape. Their plight drags him into a maze of secrets, power struggles, and generational conflict, with the Academy at its rotten core.
What’s most striking is seeing Mae Martin in a dramatic role. As Alex, they bring a grounded earnestness to the chaos and are captivating to watch. There are flickers of their trademark humour, often surfacing in darkly comic beats, but this performance is steeped in empathy and tension. It’s a savvy move for Martin, who also serves as creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer.
But of course, no mystery is complete without a magnetic villain, and Toni Collette delivers a standout performance, as always. As Evelyn, she’s chilling one moment and slyly funny the next. Collette sings a haunting rendition of “In the Pines” in the trailer, and the full performance doesn’t disappoint. Few actors can oscillate between maternal warmth and icy menace with such command.
Together, Collette and Martin have a true chemistry, which is intense and unnerving. The supporting cast does a great job helping tell this creepy story and keeping viewers intrigued and guessing. Patrick J Adams (Suits) does an impressive job as the friendly, trustworthy, but backstabbing school counsellor.
As the story continues, things go from creepy to creepier as supernatural elements are brought into play with this seemingly nice town. Without too many spoilers, you’ll be gripping from start to finish, needing to know what happens next.
Whilst Wayward is intriguing, it’s not reinventing the genre. Yes, there are classic thriller tropes such as eerie forests, hidden files, and shadowy figures lurking behind closed doors. But there are also moments of teenage bonding and wry humour that stop the show from becoming relentlessly grim. The teenage friendship between Abbie and Leila is the emotional core, reminding viewers that beneath the thriller trappings lies a story about loyalty, identity, and survival.
Is the series Wayward worth watching?
For all its originality, Wayward does occasionally stumble. The genre mash-up can feel uneven, with some episodes leaning heavily into psychological horror while others slow down for teen drama. Viewers looking for a tightly wound thriller might find the tonal shifts jarring. Similarly, the show’s metaphorical ambitions, linking adolescence, institutional power, and adult complacency, sometimes threaten to overwhelm the central mystery.
Overall, Wayward is a strange, stylish, and compelling addition to Netflix’s fall line-up. It’s not afraid to unsettle, not afraid to make you laugh, and certainly not afraid to leave you thinking. With Toni Collette commanding the screen and clever writing by Martin, Wayward is a must-watch this fall season.
'Wayward' begins streaming on Netflix on September 25.
Want more film reviews? Check out more content on our website Film Focus Online!
