If You Miss 'Sex Education', Watch This Eerie Thriller Featuring One of Its Stars – It's #3 on Netflix

Unchosen has reached third place on Netflix's list of top-selling series, capturing viewers' attention with its dark atmosphere and strong performances. Asa Butterfield receives particular praise for his departure from his role in Sex Education.

We explore why this psychological thriller is worth your attention and identify its weaknesses.

What Is 'Unchosen' About?

Rosie and Adam belong to a closed Christian community called the Fellowship of the Divine. Life in the community is governed by strict rules: men work, and women take care of the home. Worldly goods are forbidden, and the outside world is considered a haven of evil.

During a picnic, their daughter, Grace, runs into the woods and is found by Rosie drowning in the river. Then, an escaped convict hiding from the police, Sam, appears. He rescues the child and disappears, but Rosie can't stop thinking about him.

Sam soon returns, and his presence in the community causes Rosie to question her daughter's faith and safety. She sees the cruelty lurking beneath the facade of piety and realizes that the Fellowship may be more frightening than the outside world.

'Unchosen' Is Partially Based on the Real Experiences of Members of Religious Communities

Unchosen begins with statistics: there are over two thousand cults in the United Kingdom. Some are closed communities, but many live openly among ordinary people – the commune in the series is precisely that.

The Fellowship of the Divine is a fictional cult, but screenwriter Julie Gearey based it on the real-life experiences of former cult members whom she contacted through forums and social media.

Some have noted similarities between the Fellowship and the Plymouth Brethren. In preparation for his role, Asa Butterfield consulted a documentary about the Bruderhof community.

'Unchosen' Effectively Creates the Oppressive Atmosphere of a Cult, but Suffers From a Lack of Tempo

It isn't as important whether Fellowship has a clear prototype as it is to recognize how well the creators managed to recreate the everyday life of an ultra-conservative sect.

Unchosen offers a chilling portrayal of a way of life in which cruel acts are committed in the name of God. Breaking the rules is punished, power clouds men's judgment, and women have no voice and must obey their spouses.

One might expect a nerve-wracking narrative and mounting suspense from a cult thriller, but Unchosen fails to realize its potential and maintain the tension built in the opening episodes.

The pacing is disappointing – despite its compact runtime of only six episodes, the plot unfolds too slowly. Unchosen is unlikely to leave a lasting impression, but it's a decent option for a weekday evening binge-watch.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Unchosen'?

• Unchosen has 73% from critics and 43% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.1/10.