Review: 'Don't Look Deeper' Compelling, but With Caveats

With Catherine Hardwicke at the helm, "Don't Look Deeper" aims for teenage nightmare territory. Debuting on Quibi in shorter than 10 minute bursts, the first season's episodes lined up end to end would make a pretty solid, fast-paced movie.

Gorgeously shot with quite a bit of expertise on both sides of the camera, there is a lot to recommend about the series, and also one potential downside given the content. I recommend parents review the material before deciding whether supervision is necessary. While many shows aiming for a teenage audience do present both sexual behavior and substance usage, there are mentions of self-harm as well. Anyone with those kinds of triggers, or parents who suspect their child could be triggered, would do well to be warned about those three things alone.

The series is set in an idealized near future Silicon Valley; there are stylish cars, tech and fancy houses. Conversations that seem banal can have layers of meaning applied retroactively as mysteries unfold, making each episode rewatchable. Helena Howard leans into both Aisha's playfulness as well as her fearfulness. Howard's performance ricochets from one beat to another: One moment she's just hanging out, and the next moment she has to switch to near-catatonic terror. Music and clever editing on the show also provides insight into how Aisha may feel from moment to moment, but Howard does the heavy lifting herself. She manages to hold her own in scenes opposite strong actors, and also commands attention when she is the only person on screen.

There's quite a lot I could give away about the show's premise and plot lines, but I would rather not. Discovering what the show is about is definitely half the fun. The lack of information I could find about the show encouraged me to watch with fewer preconceptions, although the first thirty seconds left a very strong impression.

Most people will have the time to watch at least the first episode, since it is the length of a longer film trailer, and decide for themselves. The general effect is intriguing, and the high production value should keep viewers coming back to see where the plot twists of the previous episode were actually heading.

Don't Look Deeper
Premieres July 27, 2020
Quibi
Parental supervision strongly advised for teens: age-appropriate sexuality, alcohol, self-harm
14 episode season, ~10 mins each
https://quibi.com/shows/dont-look-deeper-490/