The Boroughs

What’s it about?

A grieving widower reluctantly moves to a retirement community where he discovers things are not as picturesque as they first seem. He teams up with his neighbours to solve an otherworldly mystery that is threatening their sanity and lives.

The facts 

• Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance)
• Executive produced by the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things)
• Starring Alfred Molina (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise), Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story), Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), and Jena Malone (Donnie Darko)
• English language
• Runtime: Eight episodes that are between 40 and 56 minutes each
• A Netflix production

Why did it get this rating? 

This series was self-rated by Netflix. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Horror, violence and scary scenes

There is a large, spooky, long-legged, spider-like monster that can grab people and pull them from room to room. There are scenes set in dark, unsettling underground tunnels and caves.

Some characters die suddenly but most deaths happen off-screen.

The strongest scary and violent scenes include:

• A character is shown with gruesome but non-bloody facial injuries after a car accident. 
• Human characters are shown distorted into scary beings with glowing eyes and hollowed skin.
• Characters visit a morgue at night and view a dead body, which just looks like it is sleeping.
• Characters are kidnapped, tied up, and trapped in a car boot, with their lives in peril.

Offensive language

Characters swear frequently, especially in times of high tension. The words include “f*ck”, “sh*t”, and “b*tch”.

Sexual references

Characters are shown in bed semi-dressed implying they have had sex. There are references to off-screen affairs and an orgy that got some residents kicked out.

Drug use

One character is an enthusiastic cannabis user and is often shown smoking joints. (Note: The show is set in New Mexico, where this usage is legal.)

When content stays with you

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 |Age Rating and Content Warning | Classification Office