Netflix Series

Sirens Premieres on Netflix: Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon Lead the Dark Drama

May 25, 2025

Sirens premieres on Netflix with Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon

Sirens (2025), a compelling Netflix limited series, offers a darkly humorous and emotionally layered narrative that delves into the complexities of sisterhood, control, and the alluring power of affluence. Created by writer and playwright Molly Smith Metzler, the series is a reimagined expansion of her 2011 stage production Elemeno Pea, transforming its intimate theatrical roots into a visually immersive, richly cinematic tale. At its core is the story of Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy), a recovering alcoholic and fiercely devoted older sister, who journeys to a secluded, high-end island estate to reconnect with her younger sister, Simone (Milly Alcock). Simone, however, has fallen under the spell of Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore), a poised and mysterious socialite married to tech tycoon Peter Kell (Kevin Bacon). What starts as a seemingly simple family visit quickly spirals into a tense psychological conflict, as Devon uncovers signs that Simone may be trapped in a web of manipulation disguised as luxury.

The series expertly pulls audiences into a setting where opulence conceals dysfunction and emotional ties are used as subtle tools of control. With a razor-sharp script and standout performances—particularly from Moore, whose portrayal of Michaela blends charm and menace—the narrative explores how influence, especially when wielded by powerful women, can both nurture and suffocate. Metzler has described the series as an exploration of the “warm toxicity” often found in elite social circles, and that paradox pulses through each episode. The pristine, remote island setting functions as both a physical and emotional metaphor—beautiful and desirable on the surface, yet isolating and dangerous underneath.

Shot against the atmospheric coastline of New England, Sirens uses its setting to amplify a sense of eerie elegance and unease. More than just a psychological thriller, the show offers sharp social commentary on class, control, and the ways in which women survive—or succumb to—the expectations placed on them in elite spaces. As Devon fights to protect her sister and unravel the truth, both women are forced to face long-buried pain and the seductive traps of comfort and security. In just five tightly crafted episodes, Sirens delivers a suspenseful, emotionally resonant experience that stands out as one of Netflix’s most thought-provoking dramas of the year.

Main Cast

Julianne Moore as Michaela Kell

Michaela is a sophisticated and enigmatic philanthropist whose charm masks a potential for manipulation. She exerts quiet but powerful influence over those in her orbit, often blurring the line between kindness and control.

Meghann Fahy as Devon DeWitt

Devon, a strong-willed woman recovering from addiction, arrives determined to rescue her sister from what she believes is an unhealthy and dangerous attachment to Michaela and the life she represents.

Milly Alcock as Simone DeWitt

Simone, Devon’s younger sibling, is deeply embedded in Michaela’s luxurious world as her assistant. Caught between loyalty and illusion, Simone seems captivated by the wealth and comfort around her.

Kevin Bacon as Peter Kell

Peter is a wealthy tech entrepreneur and Michaela’s husband. Though outwardly charismatic and composed, his role within the estate’s hierarchy hints at more complicated and possibly sinister layers of control.

Glenn Howerton as Ethan

A close associate of Peter, Ethan adds further tension and unpredictability to the household dynamics, contributing to the overall atmosphere of secrecy and shifting loyalties.

Faith Wood-Blagrove as Ophelia

A young inhabitant of the island, Ophelia’s perspective and behavior subtly reflect the strange social ecosystem created by the Kells’ influence.

Jasmine Cephas Jones as Isabelle

Isabelle serves as a figure grounded in reality, offering an external viewpoint into the closed, elite world inhabited by the Kells and those entangled with them.

Critics Weigh In on Netflix’s *Sirens*