Cassandra is a 2025 German science fiction thriller, directed by Benjamin Gutsche, which was released on February 6, 2025, on Netflix. Cassandra is a 6-episode limited series that follows a grieving family who relocates into one of the oldest smart homes in Germany, who was suddenly awakened when the family relocated.
Cassandra AI has an interesting, original and intriguing plot, involving a family of four who suddenly had to leave their home due to a tragic loss involving their aunt, (mom sister) who committed suicide in their old home. Subsequently, they thought moving into a new home would give them a fresh start especially for their daughter, who discovered the body.
What makes the story compelling is the quality of the plot and depth of Cassandra back-story, it adds a human element and touch, her home life and how she became this cold, calculated, yet sympathetic robot. Additionally, the fact that she was a human being, had a family of her own, who evidently made a lot of poor decisions for the purpose of her family love which ultimately caused her downfall. Unfortunately, Cassandra husband is not innocent either, it’s because of his overzealous & manipulated actions that led her to making the ultimate choice of becoming an AI robot.
Overall, the quality of the acting and both family dynamics are jumbled, there’s no real connection, their acting performance is mediocre and bland, making it hard to connect with any of the characters outside of Cassandra. I will give credit for some of the visuals, combining the futuristic retro-flairs of the 70s with the use of technology, the design of the smart home & aesthetic was beautifully shot.
Lastly, the storyline is remarkable, original idea and execution of a human being who made the decision to be trapped inside a monitor. You can feel the human connection, empathy for Cassandra, a well-written script that has couple of questionable moments as in any series or films.
The story takes a downward spiral in the last 2 episodes follow by the lack of a real ending after Cassandra blows up the home and the family run for safety; we don’t know what happens next for this family dynamic. Furthermore, the fact that this robot technology is so advanced where she can control the entire home, has no kill switch for something that was built in the 1970s is quite unbelievable which takes away some of the naturalistic aspects of the series. Nevertheless, a good series to add to your next “Netflix and chill.”
