Sexy Beasts
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Disguised-dating competition is contrived but sorta fun.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sexy Beasts
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
SEXY BEASTS features a group of singles who are looking but don't want to be influenced by a pretty face. Each episode begins with a contestant being set up with three people from which she or he hopes to find a match. The catch? All four are heavily made up to look like some sort of monstrous creature so their actual looks don't get in the way of the pair getting to know each other. (Think werewolf and swamp monster). After a speed-dating cycle, one person/beast is eliminated. After a longer date with the final two, a choice is made. But it's only after someone is eliminated or chosen that their real looks are revealed; whether or not the pair wants to go out on a third date after the big reveal is up to them.
Is It Any Good?
This British-produced social experiment is an odd but heartfelt attempt to address the age-old question, "Do looks really matter?" It combines the general bungling that's typical of any blind date with the cast's strange and sometimes downright scary appearances. Adding to the awkwardness are the reactions they receive from bystanders when they're out in public on dates, which range from surprised to completely indifferent.
As with any dating competition, some folks end up happily matched while others feel the sting of rejection. But the real winners are the makeup artists who fully succeed at creating complete and sophisticated transformations with face and body paint, prosthetics, and other elements. There's not a lot of romance here, but the overall viewing experience will elicit some laughs (and maybe a discussion of how we treat others based on looks).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dating competition shows. Why do people appear on them? Do they really expect to find love? How do they handle being rejected so publicly on TV?
Which messages do dating shows send about what's important in a relationship? Does this show challenge these messages? How?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 14, 2015
- Network: A&E
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: January 25, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate