Toni Collette terrifies in 'Wayward': nothing is what it seems in the year’s most disturbing psychological thriller

For an edge-of-your-seat thriller, “Wayward” is an excellent choice. In this fictional town of Tall Pines, an unsettling and suffocating eeriness permeates everything.

You know that saying, “Hurt people, hurt people”, well, here, it’s a similar mindset in that the brainwashed brainwash others. 

It’s a disturbing but widely accepted reality in this town, where everyone knows your business.

However, rebels lurk in its midst, and that is where the suspense gains momentum.

The eight-part series opens on an innocuous note: Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin), a young police officer who is also transgender, moves to Tall Pines with Laura Redman (Sarah Gadon), his heavily pregnant wife. 

Amid them settling in and Alex getting ready for his first day on the job, high school BFFs Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) find themselves in hot water for skipping classes. 

The rebellious teenagers have different struggles. Leila is haunted by the loss of her sister. Living with her mother, who is always high, doesn’t help her situation. 

On the flip side, Abbie is tired of being moulded into this picture-perfect role model. Her parents are at their wits' end trying to get her to change. 

Meanwhile, Alex, being driven by her new partner, Dwayne Andrews (Brandon Jay McLaren), is unsettled when they come across an anxious runaway teenager named Riley 

Before they can help him, he runs off. Upon further investigation, it is revealed that Riley is from Tall Pines Academy, which is run by Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette).

At first, Evelyn appears to be well-meaning in her endeavours to reform troubled kids. Her influence in the town doesn’t go unnoticed either. 

However, while Tall Pines Academy may appear to be a sanctuary for young people, the reality behind its closed doors is quite different. And the staggering number of missing teenagers over the years is a red flag.

After Alex’s efforts to help Riley backfire, he starts taking a closer look at Evelyn, who has an unnatural bond with her wife, Laura, a former student. 

A visit to the academy following Riley’s passing confirms his suspicions when he is approached by Leila and Abbie, who are now the new residents. 

Mind you, this place costs an arm and a leg. So Evelyn’s intentions aren’t as altruistic as she likes everyone to believe.

The cult of obedience at Tall Pines Academy

Nothing is comforting about Tall Pines Academy. It has a very rigid setup - no different to one of those high-security prisons. 

The rules are as shady as the team-building sessions, like the Hot Chair, where the students have the floor to openly criticise each other and then hug it out. Then there is the Mirror Room. This is a place where you don’t want to find yourself, as you're psychologically worn down the whole night. 

Kindness or any form of affection is discouraged. The ambience is oppressive, and any form of individual and free-spirited thoughts is slowly eradicated. 

While Leila and Abbie don’t fit in, they pretend to do so until they can escape. During their brief interaction with Alex, Abbie is given a walkie-talkie so they can communicate.

However, the best laid plans to break out go awry when Evelyn starts getting into Leila’s head, creating a rift between the best friends. 

The making of a cult leader

How did Evelyn become the ringleader of Tall Pines? Ironically, when she was younger, she was led astray by someone who had his own thoughts on what was best for the people. 

In rebelling against him, she ended up being the very person she fought against. 

Over the years, Evelyn’s vision, as delusional as it is, filtered through her students, some of whom became disciples. 

Alex’s secret investigation into her background and the academy starts getting noticed. 

While he tries to understand the town’s obsession with their unborn child, he also notices that there are no kids around. 

His wife, however, starts acting more strangely every time she meets Evelyn.

The dangerous choice: Leave or stay

With past secrets exposed, Alex tries his best to save Leila and Abbie. But Evelyn, who is wary of her world being upended by his actions, takes drastic measures to stop him. 

At the academy, tensions are running high as the students, triggered by recent events, start rebelling. 

In the end, Abbie and Alex have to make a tough call for their respective futures: for one, it is liberating, and for the other, it is succumbing. 

The script is truly ingenious, as is the casting. It gives you that intense “Twin Peaks” meets “Midnight Mass” and “Castle Rocks” vibe. 

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.