James McAvoy’s Disturbing Netflix Performance Leaves Viewers Uneasy—Have You Discovered This Hidden Thriller?

Ever scroll through Netflix, lost in its digital labyrinth, thinking, “How on earth do they have THIS much content—does some kind of gremlin just keep stuffing old DVDs in the back when we’re not looking?” Honestly, hunting for hidden gems can feel like panning for gold behind the couch cushions. But every now and then, Netflix quietly drops a film so outrageous, so deliciously unhinged—it practically dares you to watch it just to say you survived.

Case in point: “Filth.” This is not just another British cop flick. Oh no, we’re talking about a James McAvoy performance that swings so rapidly between unfiltered debauchery and gut-punch vulnerability, you’ll question your taste in both police procedurals and Oscar snubs . Based on the book by Irvine Welsh (yes, the genius behind “Trainspotting”), this ‘depraved and highly unsettling’ dark comedy somehow flew under the radar, despite moments so viral you might recognize them before you even press play .

What does it say about our streaming habits when a film full of drugs, sex, and divine Scottish mayhem becomes a word-of-mouth hit years after release? Maybe we’re all just a little more depraved—and a lot more curious—than we care to admit. If you’re ready to see McAvoy flip off a child (yes, really) and tumble through a cinematic fever dream that’s equal parts hilarious, tragic, and absolutely bonkers, buckle up .

Ready to see what you’re missing—and maybe test your own moral compass while you’re at it? LEARN MORE

When it comes to hidden gems, by pure numbers alone, Netflix has near every other streaming service beat.

Whether it be fans discovering the beloved Hugh Jackman crime thriller Prisoners is on there or that the streamer has added a film like The Truman Show, people are coming across hidden gems and cult classics on Netflix all the time.

One film that was quietly added to Netflix late last year has received a great deal of acclaim, even if fans found it ‘depraved and highly unsettling’.

Starring James McAvoy, whether you know the movie or not it has a number of moments that have gone viral in the years since, so you may have seen it without even knowing.

The film, called Filth, is based on a book by the same author as Trainspotting, stars McAvoy as a police officer who is at best – a tad immoral.

Warning: this trailer contains explicit language:

Filth pushes the boundaries of an R-Rating, featuring copious amounts of drugs, sex, drinking, masturbation, violence, and explicit nudity, and will leave fans wondering how it even made it into cinemas.

Whilst it is largely known for its wildly outrageous topic matter and content, the film is beloved by fans for far more than this.

The McAvoy thriller-dark comedy features a plot twist that turns it from a raucous ‘what if American Pie was about a Scottish cop’ energy to a deeply emotional and moving film, leading many fans to call for the actor to have received awards.

If you guessed that it’s a child he’s flipping off, you’d be correct (Starz Entertainment)

He is not the only beloved British actor in the film either, joined by Jamie Bell, Imogen Poots, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan, and Joanne Froggatt.

The stories from the making of the film are all about as insane as the film itself, with McAvoy being able to vomit on command and doing so at multiple points in Filth.

Added to that, the Scottish actor claimed that he got ‘really drunk’ every night whilst filming to make himself look appropriately hungover for the alcoholic character, Bruce Robertson, he plays.

One fan talking about the film on Reddit said: “The movie was highly unsettling, but I say this with high praise. James McAvoy was phenomenal.”

The film is full of moments far too R Rated to even show you (Starz Entertainment)

Another said: “James McAvoy was beyond stellar in [Filth], pivoting from moments of sincere honesty to outright rage and self-contempt within a matter of seconds in a completely believable way.

“I have a deep admiration for what they were able to do with such a dark and grimy story. The fact that it’s even watchable is kind of a testament to how great the execution of the film was.”

While critics were more split, with a 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, even those that gave negative reviews were full of praise for McAvoy’s performance in the role.

Many, however, loved it – with Kate Muir of The Times saying: “James McAvoy gives his best performance to date as a morally and physically decaying detective in this hallucinogenic adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel.”

Filth is available to stream on Netflix in the UK and Ireland now.