Unchosen, Season one, Episodes 1-3

What’s it about?

A couple in an English cult have their lives upended by an enigmatic outsider.

The facts

• Created by Julie Gearey
• Directed by Jim Loach (Criminal Record) and Philippa Langdale (A Discovery of Witches)
• English language
• Runtime: 40-46 minutes per episode, six episodes in the limited series
• Starring Asa Butterfield, Molly Windsor and Christopher Eccleston

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.

Rape

The cult is shown to systematically sexually abuse women for male pleasure and power, and as part of the male dominance in the cult.

In episode two a man in a position of power gropes a woman after she’s hosted him in her home. In episode three it is implied through conversations and arguments that he has abused another female member of the community.

In episode three we see a husband rape his wife, forcing her to turn around against a wall after she says no. We only see a closeup of her face as the movement and sound indicate he is forcing himself on her. She later tells her mum why she is upset and that her husband hurt her.

Sex scenes

We see a couple having sex, there’s no nudity but thrusting movement and sounds indicate intercourse. The camera stays close up on the woman’s face. There’s no sign of female pleasure.

We see a couple undress each other, she keeps her slip on and he is topless. The camera stays on her face in close-up, with movement and sound indicating mutual pleasure during intercourse.

Violence

A character is tortured by being held against his will and being force-fed alcohol.

A character has flashbacks to a violent fight with a sharp stake that is used to stab a character through the hand (we see this close-up with bloody detail). During the fight a character is killed by their head slamming against the wall. We don’t see the close-up injury but the scene is bloody, fast and shocking.

A character interrupts a situation of intimate partner violence and is backhanded. The fight immediately stops and we see she has a resulting mark on her face.

Two brothers fight, punching each other and tumbling to the ground. There’s no resulting injury.

Content that may disturb

In episode one we see a near-drowning of a child.

In episode two we see a baby born at home. The labouring woman is covered with sheets and no nudity is shown. A helper cleans up the bloody sheets in the kitchen sink afterwards.

The cruel nature of cult life is portrayed through some strong scenes:

• A character is shunned from the community for an unspecified period of time for having a forbidden cellphone. He is locked up in a room inside his house.
• In episode two a ‘tainted’ member is forced to drink excessive alcohol during a ceremony to make him repent and excise the ‘demon’. This includes whiskey being forcibly poured down his throat.

A character threatens blackmail after finding contraband they have hidden.

Offensive language

There is very occasional strong language including ‘f*ck’, ‘f*ck you’, and ‘f*cking’.

Helplines:

The sexual violence could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?