This Unsettling Psychological Thriller Peaked at #5 on Netflix & I Can See Why It Has a Perfect Score on Rotten Tomatoes

Smart House was one of the scariest movies I ever saw as a kid. Just the thought of living in a computerized home with an overbearing, holographic mom made me shudder—and Katey Sagal did a fabulous job of turning that nightmare into reality. In fact, I still think about that evil smile and robotic voice to this day. But if you thought Pat was creepy, just wait until you see the sinister vintage robot in Netflix's Cassandra.

The German thriller series, which hit number five on Netflix's top ten list and currently holds a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, doesn't revolve around a boy who wins a brand-new smart house. Rather, it tells the story of Samira, a wife and mother who moves her family into an abandoned smart home, complete with a robot helper that was built during the '70s. Named Cassandra, the seemingly harmless robot impresses the family with all her gadgets and tricks, but before long, Samira begins to suspect there's more to Cassandra than meets the eye.

I've only seen the first episode, but I am already thoroughly creeped out by the old-fashioned bot. (So much so that I've become a bit paranoid when it comes to my own smart tools and devices...) There's the plastic smile, the subtle hostility towards Samira and the casual way she killed a mouse, leaving a trail of blood in her path. Meanwhile, she's charming the socks off of Samira's daughter with impromptu singing sessions and offers to help with homework. She calls herself the "the fairy godmother who keeps everything in order," but it's clear from the get-go that Cassandra's intentions aren't pure, and the fact that she is everywhere makes her even more terrifying.

I can already predict where this story will go, yet I'm still eager to see the remaining episodes because of the incredibly talented main cast and relatable themes, including the potential dangers of AI, lack of privacy and complex family dynamics. Also, the pilot briefly teases a few fascinating subplots, like a potential new love interest for Samira's son and a glimpse of Cassandra's mysterious past. There's one particular scene that involves a series of throwback photos of Cassandra, and it triggers a pretty strong reaction that offers just a glimpse of what she's capable of.