Netflix just added one of the strangest mystery thriller movies I’ve ever watched — and it feels like a twisted fairytale

Alexandra Daddario in "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" movie (2018) — (Image credit: Brainstorm Media / Album / Alamy)

When looking through Netflix’s lineup for October 2025, I noticed a movie I hadn’t heard of before: “We Have Always Lived in the Castle.” The title alone was enough to catch my attention, but after reading the premise, I was even more intrigued. Not to mention it’s based on the novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, the brilliant mind behind “The Haunting of Hill House.”

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is an obscure little mystery thriller that follows two sisters living in isolation after a family tragedy, their quiet world disrupted by the arrival of a manipulative cousin. Safe to say, it wasn’t what I expected (in a good way), and it plays almost like a gothic family drama that completely subverts expectations.

Now that it’s streaming on Netflix, I have a feeling this twisting thriller might go unnoticed, given its quiet 2018 release and understated appeal. Still, I’m hoping a few curious viewers stumble across this elegantly eerie movie cloaked in mystery, because it doesn't deserve to be overlooked. If you need something tense to stream this week, here’s why you should add “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” to your Netflix watchlist.

What is ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ about?

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“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” follows sisters Merricat (Taissa Farmiga) and Constance Blackwood (Alexandra Daddario), who live in near isolation with their ailing Uncle Julian (Crispin Glover) in a large family estate on the edge of a small town.

The townspeople despise them after a mysterious tragedy wiped out most of their family years earlier, and the trio live quietly behind locked gates, relying on routines to keep the outside world away. Their fragile peace begins to unravel when their charming cousin Charles (Sebastian Stan) arrives, claiming he wants to help but quickly upsetting the balance of their secluded life.

His presence stirs old tensions, secrets and suspicions that threaten to destroy what remains of the Blackwood family’s world. Merricat soon becomes desperate to protect her sister and their home from further intrusion, no matter the cost.

A gothic fairytale steeped in paranoia and decay

Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Daddario in "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" movie (2018) — (Image credit: Brainstorm Media / TCD / Prod.DB / Alamy)

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is definitely not for everyone. It’s a slow-burn movie that thrives on its creeping sense of dread and the uncertainty that comes from knowing so little at the start. In the opening minutes, Farmiga’s character says that she and her sister are good people. That they put things back where they belong and would never hurt anyone. How much of that you choose to believe depends entirely on your perception by the end.

Almost immediately, this thriller establishes a distinct visual style, one that feels like a dark fairytale slowly unfolding chapter by chapter, paired with music that’s light, lilting, and almost whimsical. But there’s nothing light about this story, as most of it is steeped in darkness and isolation.

I haven’t watched anything like this before, and I think that’s part of why I enjoyed it. “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” tells its story primarily through character interactions and dynamics, so if you’re someone who prefers heavy exposition, you won’t find much here. The movie takes an ambiguous route, letting you piece things together yourself, especially regarding the central mystery of who poisoned the other family members.

Sebastian Stan in "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" movie (2018) — (Image credit: Brainstorm Media / Album / Alamy)

To me, though, the mystery isn’t the main reason to watch. It’s the trio at the center (played by Farmiga, Daddario and Stan) who create a truly compelling dynamic. Daddario’s character, Constance, keeps a calm, reassuring smile even in the most anxiety-inducing situations. Farmiga exudes an unsettling quiet intensity, while Stan is especially menacing. All three have such distinct personalities that their interactions feel like a beautifully tense clash of wills.

Crispin Glover in "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" movie (2018) — (Image credit: Brainstorm Media / TCD / Prod.DB / Alamy)

This movie honestly takes me back to my days in English studies, because there’s so much to unpack, and every shot seems to hold its own meaning. It’s definitely essay-worthy, and director Stacie Passon shows she knows how to make a mystery thriller feel impactful, even when it’s just characters having a long conversation at the dinner table.

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is essentially a character study wrapped in a beautifully twisted fairytale world. The story builds to a climactic finale, and although the majority of its 98 minutes is spent exploring the characters and their experiences in isolation, it’s a unique tale that ultimately comes down to the unbreakable bond between two sisters.

Stream ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ on Netflix now

Sebastian Stan and Alexandra Daddario in "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" movie (2018) — (Image credit: Brainstorm Media / TCD / Prod.DB / Alamy)

I’m not the only one praising it either, because this movie holds a solid rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s critics consensus reads: “We Have Always Lived in the Castle draws on Shirley Jackson's classic tale to deliver a skillfully crafted mystery that engrosses and unsettles in equal measure.”

“We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is a carefully crafted gothic thriller that carries an unexpectedly deep human core. A lot of that depth comes from Shirley Jackson’s novel, which draws on her own life experiences. While the movie leans a bit more on character and atmosphere than on traditional thriller elements, it explores intriguing ideas and a lingering sense of mystery that keeps you fully engaged.

Stream “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” on Netflix now.

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Alix is a Senior Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. It’s a dream job for someone who’s been obsessed with storytelling since she first figured out how to work a remote.

Before joining Tom’s Guide, Alix honed her skills as a staff writer with outlets like Screen Rant and Bough Digital, where she discovered her love for the entertainment industry.

She heads to the cinema every week as a tradition, no matter what’s showing. For her, movies aren’t just entertainment — they’re a ritual, a comfort, and a constant source of inspiration. When she’s not at her desk or at the cinema, you’ll probably find her deep into a horror video game on her PC.

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