The new Amazon Prime Video thriller Malice, which launched on November 14, 2025, promises a gripping blend of revenge and psychological drama but ultimately struggles to deliver on its potential. Despite a star-studded cast featuring David Duchovny and Jack Whitehall, the six-part series is frequently undermined by its own clumsy execution.
A Promising Premise Let Down by Execution
Created by James Wood, Malice is set in both Greece and London. The plot follows Jack Whitehall as Adam Healey, an 'evil male nanny' who cunningly infiltrates the wealthy Tanner family, headed by ultra-rich businessman Jamie (David Duchovny) and his wife Nat (Carice van Houten). When the family's nanny falls ill on holiday, Adam seizes the opportunity to embed himself in their London home, where his vengeful motives slowly surface.
The series aims to sit somewhere between The Talented Mr. Ripley and Netflix's You, exploring Adam's dark obsession with Duchovny's character as he systematically turns the family against each other. However, critics found that the show fails to live up to these esteemed influences.
Problematic Dialogue and Pacing
One of the most significant issues plaguing Malice is its reliance on heavy-handed, expositional dialogue. A key example occurs midway through the series in a London graveyard, where Whitehall's character, after scrubbing clean his parents' tombstone, turns to his sister and snarls, 'They didn't deserve this.' This type of line is indicative of the show's tendency to tell rather than show, robbing scenes of their inherent drama and intrigue.
The problem persists in moments that should be tense. In one particularly jarring scene, Whitehall's character is driving with a dead body in the boot and children in the back seat. After being pulled over by police and receiving a ticket for using his phone, he mutters a profanity-laden, anti-police insult. This bizarre character choice feels unearned and confusing, pulling viewers out of the moment and disrupting the narrative momentum.
Glimmers of Potential Amidst the Flaws
Despite its shortcomings, Malice is not without its merits. Jack Whitehall delivers a genuinely creepy performance in spurts, particularly when his character's sinister nature emerges during scenes in a Greek strip club or at strange sex pool parties. His chemistry with David Duchovny provides some of the series' stronger moments, and Duchovny himself makes the most of his screen time.
Yet, these flashes of quality are too often extinguished by predictable twists and a script that does its talented cast few favours. The conclusion leaves viewers with a cast of largely despicable characters, making it difficult to feel invested in their fates. In today's competitive television landscape, Malice ultimately fails to stand out as a must-watch thriller, serving as a lesson in how crucial sharp writing is to supporting a compelling premise.
