If you’re looking for a creepy binge-watch this Halloween, Netflix has you covered with the new miniseries Wayward. Some shows are pretty easy to follow, offering definitive conclusions to their story after a single season. Then there are shows like Netflix’s psychological thriller Wayward, a twisted miniseries that is as weird as it is unsettling.

By the time Wayward’s ending rolls around, it would be impressive if even the most eagle-eyed viewer didn’t need at least some of the show’s twists and turns broken down for them. Despite this, the series starts out with a straightforward setup. Series creator Mae Martin stars as Alex, a police officer who moves to Tall Pines with his wife.

Searching for a fresh start, Alex seems to have landed in the perfect location by finding Tall Pines. Sure, Wayward’s town does resemble Twin Peaks thanks to its stunning scenery and quirky locals, but the oddballs that make up the town’s populace seem relatively harmless. That is, until Alex learns about the town’s behavioral correction center.

Wayward Is A Creepy Thriller With Horror Elements

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Wayward’s horror elements come to the fore with the introduction of Toni Colette’s seemingly normal villain, the proprietor of a local behavioral correction center for troubled youths. If that sounds like a lot of euphemisms, that is because it is. In reality, Colette’s camp appears to be a cult bent on brainwashing rebellious teens.

Or maybe it isn’t, and the creepy elements of the camp are imagined in whole or in part by Alex, or the troubled runaway he tries to save. The show’s first season never clarifies exactly what is and is not real, meaning Wayward season 2 will have an awful lot of explaining to do if it receives the green light.

For some viewers, the lack of explanation that is provided for Wayward’s many mysteries might be frustrating. However, given the timing of the show’s release, it seems like Martin and Netflix might have known just how to capitalize on the show’s tricky blend of tones and genres. A Halloween arrival seems perfectly fitting for such a strange, unsettling thriller.

Wayward has plenty of satirical moments, and the show’s sharp wit is no surprise considering Martin’s background as a comedian. However, like summer’s sleeper hit horror movie Weapons, this suburban horror story isn’t entirely comedic. Wayward’s scary scenes are played straight, and its hallucinogenic horror sequences owe a debt to the scariest moments of Twin Peaks.

Wayward’s Brief Runtime Makes It A Perfect Halloween Binge Watch

Compared to some of Netflix’s earlier underrated horror shows, Wayward is relatively bloodless. However, the show doesn’t need gore to make for a perfect Halloween binge-watch. Its themes of conformity and authoritarian control call to mind the work of Shirley Jackson and Ira Levin, particularly the latter’s seminal novel The Stepford Wives.

By setting Wayward back in 2003, Martin makes the show a period piece while also cannily commenting on issues that could not be more relevant today. Fortunately, Wayward’s twisty, propulsive plot means the show is more than a soapbox horror. Like Jordan Peele, whose Get Out is another clear influence, Martin blends pure genre thrills with a canny, timely message.

Furthermore, Wayward’s brief runtime means even the busiest viewer will be able to find time for the miniseries between handing out candy and hanging Halloween decorations. The show’s future is not yet clear but, despite its brevity and its ambiguous conclusion, Wayward does feel like a fully realized story.

It is tough for any show to combine cults, mind control, the tropes of a police procedural, a teen runaway subplot, and a small-town drama in just one story, and Wayward doesn’t help itself with the show’s limited runtime. However, these elements eventually gel in an ending that, although hardly overly clear, does feel fitting and strangely inevitable upon a re-watch.

Wayward Season 2’s Future At Netflix Is Not Yet Clear

There are plenty of unsolved mysteries for Wayward season 2 to address if Martin’s show returns to Netflix in the future. It’s not clear whether the show has a multi-season plan, but it is worth noting that Stranger Things was originally conceived as a standalone miniseries and went on to become the streaming service’s biggest franchise to date.

As such, there is a very good chance that viewers will see more of the town of Tall Pines in the coming years. Martin’s savvy satire blends well with the show’s surreal, unpredictable tone while Wayward also provides straightforward genre thrills for viewers who are more interested in turning off their brains and simply being unsettled by a weird thriller.

Wayward is not quite perfect and a few episodes lag in comparison to the deeply creepy pilot and explosive disconcerting conclusion. However, for anyone seeking out a creepy miniseries to binge this Halloween, the Netflix hit is still a must-see. Whether or not <em>Wayward</em> season 2 ever happens, the year’s weirdest thriller remains necessary if uneasy viewing.