A shopping center in the small Texan town of Skylin in 1993. The inconspicuous 15-year-old Jeanette with braces is standing in front of a sales stand for jewelry accessories. Her gaze wanders to the pretty girl Kate, a popular high school diva in a red summer dress. She sneaks over, past two disparaging looking friends from Kate’s clique. This is followed by a subtly disturbing, awkward attempt at a conversation in a nervous, shaky voice that could easily have taken place between two lockers in the corridor of a high school.
The start of the first season of the series Cruel Summer doesn’t let you know whether you’re dealing with another clichéd high school teen series or a psychological thriller series that tries to be unconventional. The series was co-produced by actress Jessica Biel, who was already involved in the successful series The Sinner together with her colleague Michelle Purple is creatively involved and in the first season of Cruel Summer steps in front of the camera himself.
From the most popular to the most hated person
At the center of the plot are Jeanette Turner, played by the previously unknown Chiara Aurelia, and Kate Wallis, played by Olivia Holt, who is already in Cloak and Dagger shone. The storyline is somewhat reminiscent of the crazy body swap in the iconic comedy Freaky Friday, but plays more with social expectations and prejudices: When one day the popular model student Kate disappears without a trace, Jeanette uses her chance. Without further ado, she takes over the previous life of Kate, including her clique and her friend Jamie, and suddenly rises to the most popular person in her school – only to become the most hated person in the country a year later, who has a serious accusation and numerous intrigues of hers Environment.
In order to make this tremendous change comprehensible, the series uses a nifty trick: The story is about the same summer days in the years 1993 to 1995, between which the perspective changes fragmentarily back and forth. This synchronous structure over three time levels may take getting used to and confusing at first, but offers enough space for the development of both main characters as well as the introduction of important secondary characters.
Jumps in time create excitement
The smooth transition of the time leaps helps to skillfully interweave all the twists and turns of a thoroughly complex plot. A well thought-out disclosure of information gradually solves the puzzle, whereby the viewer’s ability to combine is required. The special tension of the series is not created by thriller-typical surprise and suspense moments, but first and foremost by the dynamic change, which is supported scenically by a strikingly warm and cold color scheme.
The effective staging and the skillful dramaturgy combined with an astonishingly strong acting performance are what Cruel Summer as an extraordinary thriller series stands out in the midst of the oversupply. Anyone who is not put off by the numerous coming-of-age moments between first love, youthful fears and wishes of the characters in the midst of American small-town flair can look forward to a special series experience.
Cruel Summer, 10 episodes, on Amazon Prime Video