This is definitely not a pleasant watch: it is more or less like a 10 episodes long punch in the belly. The story tells of the unrelenting discrimination of a black family that moves into a white suburban neighborhood in the US, around the 50's. Things deteriorate, the neighbors gradually work themselves up to a murderous frenzy, while the besieged black family desperately tries to cope with all of this, until eventually they break and start fighting back.
To picture this gruesome story, the makers of this series use various narrative techniques, like flashbacks, metaphors, figments of the imagination, etcetera, up until bringing in supernatural, almost gothic aspects. Although this at many times results in fascinating cinematography, it's also a bit much, and there are moments that it caused (at least with me) serious confusion. Another slight reservation concerned the part of Betty, the most fervent of the discriminating neighbors. The series provided her with a substantial story-line of her own, stretching over several episodes. This was in itself fascinating, and Alison Pill acted great, but it seemed to have nothing whatsoever to do with the main story. So why?
Deborah Ayorinde and Ashley Thomas both did a stunning job, they really had to go to the limits and beyond in their parts. Shahadi Wright Joseph and Melody Hurt as their daughters were equally great, you almost shudder to think how these young kids must have undergone all the pretended but very convincingly pictured hate and violence during the filming.
To picture this gruesome story, the makers of this series use various narrative techniques, like flashbacks, metaphors, figments of the imagination, etcetera, up until bringing in supernatural, almost gothic aspects. Although this at many times results in fascinating cinematography, it's also a bit much, and there are moments that it caused (at least with me) serious confusion. Another slight reservation concerned the part of Betty, the most fervent of the discriminating neighbors. The series provided her with a substantial story-line of her own, stretching over several episodes. This was in itself fascinating, and Alison Pill acted great, but it seemed to have nothing whatsoever to do with the main story. So why?
Deborah Ayorinde and Ashley Thomas both did a stunning job, they really had to go to the limits and beyond in their parts. Shahadi Wright Joseph and Melody Hurt as their daughters were equally great, you almost shudder to think how these young kids must have undergone all the pretended but very convincingly pictured hate and violence during the filming.