Review of “Cassandra”

“Cassandra” is the latest project from German screenwriter and director Benjamin Gutsche; a Netflix miniseries that blends thriller and science fiction into one.

“Cassandra” is the latest project from German screenwriter and director Benjamin Gutsche; a Netflix miniseries that blends thriller and science fiction into one. With only six 45-minute episodes, its unsettling plot will keep you hooked until the very end.

Would you live in a house controlled by AI? And what if that AI was willing to do anything to keep your family? This is precisely the premise of the German miniseries “Cassandra”: a family moves into an abandoned 1970s house that was once the first smart home, controlled by a humanoid AI assistant.

From the start, each episode of “Cassandra” feels like it could belong in the acclaimed series “Black Mirror,” known for its dystopian stories that explore contemporary anxieties. In this case, Gutsche’s series delves into pressing questions raised by technological advancements and the growing role of AI, such as: Is coexistence between humans and AI truly possible?

The series starts off slowly, taking its time to build the retro setting where the story unfolds: the abandoned house the family moves into. However, as the episodes progress, the audience begins to realize that Cassandra, the household assistant, is not what she seems.

With tense and distressing moments, the miniseries dares to push the story forward with some unsettling plot twists. One of its strongest points is its dual narrative, allowing viewers to travel to the past and witness the origins of the smart house and Cassandra herself. In my opinion, this is the most intriguing aspect of the series—going back to 1972 to uncover the events that led to the creation of this AI.

From the cast’s performances to the eerie setting and cinematography, everything works together to immerse you in this dark universe. “Cassandra” skillfully plays with psychological horror and the lingering fear many still have of robots and AI, pushing it to its fullest potential.