Residue Review

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​Residue is an independent British made Netflix Show. With only three 45 minute episodes, this show has a good slow burning mystery wrapped in conspiracy and horror.
Set in a near future after an event leaving a section of the city in a QZ (quarantine zone), a photo-journalist Jennifer Preston (Natalia Tena) recognises not everything is as it seems. She shares her suspicions with her partner Jonas (Iwan Rheon), a government employee who realises that there is more going on than meets the eye.

The performances are solid as from the little dialogue given to each we can read their facial expressions as they maneuver through a fair bit this show solo.
This show uses a more film style format for it's story telling than that of a regular show. With it's pacing being rather unique as it's playing for the end game to the season  more than the episode. Residue doesn't miss a beat to keep the mystery alive while elements of horror ooze out every now and again in an eerie fashion.
A lot of what this show gives you in it's  mystery and horror is from what it doesn't give you. Any glimpse of a strange occurrence from this bizarre phenomenon ends with not much explanation followed by rather quiet scenes to allow any mystery and horror to be dreamed up by the viewer. Residue uses this technique brilliantly through out its arc. The visual effects may not be blockbuster but I don't think anybody expects that in a series although they are incredible as what we see has a beautifully crafted design allowing the effects to be more affective.
The colour palette remains bleak and any glimpse of colour is a dark, moody scale just adding a extra weight to the story in every scene. In addition to the visuals, there's a minimalist score drizzled into it every now and again, it's nothing we haven't heard before but it is used in all the right areas. The score just enhances the tone of each scene whether it be the horror or mystery, it's just the right sound and it's never overpowering. Any shots in the city are very empty containing just the main character most of the time, to show the effect the "event" has made.
Residue is a strong blend of genres, mixing sci-fi, horror and mystery so well into a tiny package. I can't confirm if Residue is cancelled or progressing with a season 2.  It would be nice to see a season 2 so I hope Netflix make it happen.
If you're going to watch this, I recommend it to be watched in its entirety.

Mr. Cynic is rating this 8/10