The Mosquito Coast

Allie Fox—a brilliant inventor and stubborn idealist—uproots his family for a dangerous quest through Mexico to flee the U.S. government and find safety.

The Mosquito Coast is a tense American survival drama adapted from Paul Theroux's novel. Justin Theroux plays Allie Fox, a brilliant inventor and stubborn idealist who uproots his wife and children and leads them on a perilous flight through Mexico to escape the U.S. government. Each stretch of the journey pushes the household deeper into hostile terrain, where Allie's grand schemes collide with the practical needs of his family and with the strangers they meet. The mood is claustrophobic and paranoid, with constant unease about pursuit and exposure. Quieter moments of wistful family tenderness surface between bouts of danger, and the emotional weight rests on the bond between parents and children who never chose this life. The story unfolds as one continuing, serialized narrative across two seasons, building momentum as the family's situation grows more precarious. Viewers drawn to morally complicated patriarchs, fugitive households and bleak survivalist stories will find much to engage them in its restless, anxious atmosphere.

Reviewers find the fugitive-family premise compelling and the lead performance strong, but the execution across its two seasons is uneven.

• Breaking Badshared serialized family survival drama under a charismatic, obsessive patriarch
• Hard Rainshared idealist father leading family off the grid, paranoid tension, adaptation of a novel
• Jerichoshared fugitive family on the run from government pressure, dark survivalist tone
• Ozarkshared intense family drama with a stubborn father whose ideals endanger his children

Created by

Neil Cross

Release Date

2021-04-30

Episode runtime

53 min

Rating

6.8 / 10 (303)

What is The Mosquito Coast about?

Inventor Allie Fox uproots his family and drags them on a dangerous flight through Mexico to escape the U.S. government.

What is The Mosquito Coast like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Mosquito Coast as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Mosquito Coast violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Mosquito Coast as moderate.

What did critics think of The Mosquito Coast?

Reviewers find the fugitive-family premise compelling and the lead performance strong, but the execution across its two seasons is uneven.

Which shows are like The Mosquito Coast?

Shows with a similar feel include Breaking Bad, Hard Rain, Jericho, and Ozark.

How long is The Mosquito Coast?

The Mosquito Coast: 2 seasons, 17 episodes.

Is The Mosquito Coast still running?

No, The Mosquito Coast was canceled.

Where can I watch The Mosquito Coast?

In United States, The Mosquito Coast streams on Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel.