This weekend, television audiences are indulging their morbid curiosity by bingeing what some are calling the 'worst horror series of all time' – Ryan Murphy's latest offering, The Beauty. The show, which premiered its first three episodes on Disney Plus, has sparked intense debate among viewers and critics alike, with reactions ranging from horrified fascination to outright dismissal.
A Departure from Murphy's Anthology Roots
Gone are the days when Ryan Murphy delivered critically acclaimed anthology series like The People v OJ Simpson and The Assassination of Gianni Versace. In recent years, Murphy has shifted toward more controversial projects, including Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and the Kim Kardashian-led All's Fair. The Beauty represents his latest venture into provocative territory, and it's generating conversation for all the wrong reasons according to many viewers.
Gruesome Premise and Body Horror
The series revolves around a sexually transmitted virus that makes infected individuals incredibly attractive – but with a deadly catch. After approximately two years of heightened desirability, during which carriers typically spread the virus widely, their internal body temperature rises to such extreme levels that they literally explode. The show doesn't shy away from depicting this gruesome transformation, featuring:
- Smouldering piles of ribcages and molten flesh
- Skin torn asunder to reveal bloody bones beneath
- Spine-cracking bodily contortions during transformation sequences
This level of body horror has drawn comparisons to films like The Substance, though many argue Murphy's execution falls short of its cinematic counterparts.
Starry Cast in Questionable Material
Despite the controversial material, The Beauty boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes:
- Bella Hadid and Amelia Gray Hamlin as victims of the virus
- Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall as FBI detectives investigating the mysterious deaths
- Ashton Kutcher as a malevolent pharmaceutical billionaire marketing the 'hot jab'
- Isabella Rossellini as Kutcher's character's wife
The age gap between Kutcher and Rossellini's characters is explained through the billionaire's use of his own product, adding another layer of absurdity to an already convoluted plot. Many viewers have expressed surprise that such established actors would sign on to what some are calling 'shameless claptrap.'
Critical Reception and Viewer Backlash
Metro's Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook awarded the series just one star in her review, urging viewers to 'proceed at your own peril.' She noted that while the premise could have been timely – touching on themes of cosmetic enhancement and pharmaceutical interventions like Ozempic – the execution fails to deliver anything substantial.
On IMDb, where the show currently holds a 5.8 out of 10 rating, viewer opinions are sharply divided. Some appreciate the series' unapologetic approach to body horror and its refusal to take itself too seriously. Others have been far less charitable, with one viewer creating the acronym 'WOAT' (worst of all time) specifically for The Beauty.
Social media reactions have been equally polarized. User @redinnevada commented: 'I know the economy is bad, lots of folks unemployed, but these actors are better than taking THIS HORRIBLE JOB!!!' Meanwhile, another viewer named Kathryn described the experience as 'painful to watch.'
The Murphy Paradox: Can't Look Away
Despite the negative reception from many quarters, there's an undeniable fascination with Murphy's latest creation. Much like rubbernecking at a car crash, viewers seem compelled to witness what the controversial showrunner has produced this time. Some have even speculated that the poor quality might be intentional – a strategy to generate word-of-mouth buzz through 'so-bad-it's-good' momentum.
As the debate continues to rage across social media and review platforms, one thing remains clear: Ryan Murphy still knows how to get people talking, even when the conversation revolves around what many consider to be his worst work to date. Whether viewers are tuning in for genuine entertainment or morbid curiosity, The Beauty has certainly made an impression – for better or worse.
