📺 Netflix Limited Series | 🔍 Based on the novel by Daria Polatin
🎠Starring Emily Deschanel, Madeleine Arthur
Devil in Ohio is a slow-burning psychological thriller that explores the chilling aftermath of cult trauma and the emotional unraveling of those who try to confront it. Loosely inspired by true events, the series centers on Dr. Suzanne Mathis (Emily Deschanel), a compassionate psychiatrist who brings a deeply disturbed young girl named Mae (Madeleine Arthur) into her home after the teenager escapes from a mysterious cult hidden in rural Ohio.
What begins as a gesture of goodwill spirals into obsession and danger. As Suzanne tries to protect Mae and help her assimilate into normal life, she slowly becomes entangled in the shadowy and malevolent influence Mae brings with her. The girl’s strange behavior, ritualistic scars, and cryptic past raise unsettling questions, all while Suzanne’s own family begins to fracture under the strain.
The tension escalates as Suzanne uncovers terrifying truths about Mae’s origins, the cult’s disturbing beliefs, and their relentless desire to reclaim what they believe belongs to them. The line between protector and enabler begins to blur, and Suzanne must confront her own buried trauma and codependency issues as her world begins to collapse around her.
The show thrives on atmosphere—drenched in muted tones, eerie symbolism, and a constant sense of unease. With subtle horror elements and psychological depth, Devil in Ohio explores themes of faith, fear, identity, and the human need for belonging, even at a deadly cost.
Emily Deschanel delivers a tense, nuanced performance in her return to television, while Madeleine Arthur is hauntingly compelling as Mae—a victim and manipulator in equal measure. For fans of Sharp Objects, The Sinner, or cult-based thrillers, Devil in Ohio is a twisted, thought-provoking series that lingers long after the final episode.
