The Trouble with Tessa is a six episode series that is currently on horror streamer Screambox. The show follows a documentarian (Katrin Nugent) who has retreated to a secluded mountain town in order to escape a scandal. Lowery is off the grid and gives Tessa the chance to start over. But when she seems to stumble upon a murder, her investigative instincts take over.
Small towns are an excellent setting for creepy mysteries. Their safe veneer hides a dark side that we all know is there even if we are not sure what it is. This is the case with Lowery, with its nice people and quaint setting. Even its rules of not allowing cellphones or the internet adds to the charm. Then there is the curfew.
The audience is immediately drawn into the world of The Trouble with Tessa. The title character is easy to get behind. She tried to do what she felt was the right thing and has had her life ruined because of it. It is a cliché, but Nugent does a fantastic job of making sure it never feels derivative.
The atmosphere does most of the heavy lifting. A suspicious tone remains the entire time. The short episodes mete out enough clues and information to keep audiences invested and always wanting more. As The Trouble with Tessa continues, things become more tangled and tense.
By the time the show has concluded, it has touched a number of different sub-genres. There is sometimes the feeling that The Trouble with Tessa is taking on too much, but it never ruins the enjoyment. The pacing makes sure nothing overstays its welcome and the lead performance is fantastic. It is a very solid watch that will appeal to fans of dark storytelling.
The Trouble with Tessa is streaming on Screambox.
