Malice – Review: Where’s the malice?

If you’ve been looking for a mix of The White Lotus and The Talented Mr. Ripley, look no further. Malice is a gratifyingly sinister psychological thriller, and with names like David Duchovny, Jack Whitehall, and Carice Van Houten, nothing but stellar performances were expected. 

Duchovny’s character, venture capitalist Jamie Tanner, is well nuanced and, though initially suspicious of this sudden intruder into their lives, eventually welcomes Adam Healey (Jack Whitehall) and the two form a bond when the latter studies the Tanner family and their individual kryptonites. The X-Files actor isn’t so much a believer anymore; Jamie is skeptical, but Adam’s character is charmingly menacing, raising suspicion yet managing to disarm the family with his quick wit and dry humour. 

Adam is introduced to them while accompanying Jules and Damien, a pair invited to vacation in Greece with the Tanner family and their nanny, Jodie, the first victim of Adam’s diabolical plot. He menacingly pits each family member against the other, each time earning unwavering faith and loyalty, until it’s too late. 

“Episode 6” – MALICE, Pictured: (L-R): Jamie Tanner played by David Duchovny and Adam played by Jack Whitehall. Prime UK ©2025. All Rights Reserved

Jamie’s character also brings some much-needed comic release amidst the tension. After his dog is poisoned (and quite obviously dead) and his wife questions whether they should call the vet, Jamie sarcastically quips, “For what, to see if Jesus is on call?”. He, and Jules, are rightfully suspicious of Adam’s seemingly innocent attachment to Nat and his unbearable willingness to always be “the good guy”. 

In the opening scene of the pilot, we see Adam being stopped in an airport, where he is then questioned regarding the Tanner family and their last whereabouts. As the show progresses, there is a moment where you question whether that scene is out of context because Malice’s downfall was in the painstakingly slow buildup to expose Adam’s true intention. 

His snooping and general curiosity about the couples and their families suggest that he covets their lives, and more importantly, their lifestyles. It’s clear from the outset that he’s been watching them far longer than they’ve been aware, but it takes so long to uncover it that certain parts felt less thriller and more filler.

It’s safe to say that Duchovny steals every scene he’s in. He is the grounding element in the contrived, somewhat weak plot. As predictable as it turned out to be, a part of me was expecting Adam to make Jamie suffer as he did, by executing his family, but alas, that opening scene left the series feeling rather formulaic. Unfortunately, Jack Whitehall is no Penn Badgley. So the menacing aura is not accompanied by any real fears, but for the most part, it’s an entertaining watch. 

Simply put: There’s not much malice in Malice. 

All episodes of Malice are now streaming on Prime.