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Netflix’s first original German series Dark is aptly named; much of its 10 episodes take place in dim rooms, poorly lit caves and unlit garages. But it goes above and beyond unsettling undertones; there’s lies, ugly secrets and a general overcast on the town. Think Twin Peaks vs The Killing and you’ll get the idea.
The new thriller follows four families in a small German town, whose lives are transformed by the disappearance of two young children. Double lives and fractured relationships are exposed, as the town begin their search – but things only get stranger as people start digging beneath the surface. It’s all a bit Stranger Things; as well as kids disappearing for an unknown reason, there are two timelines playing simultaneously and elements of the supernatural – the lights of the town flicker on and off for an unknown reason, alluding to the show’s central theme of time travel. The dark undertones are literally everywhere; think wrecked adults, cracking relationships, evil streaks and a scent of something nasty in the air… This is a show for adults and a tough watch at times but once you start to unravel the mystery, you won’t be able to turn away.
The director and showrunner of the show is Baran bo Odar, who has earlier made the terrific and underrated murder mystery The Silence and the thriller Who Am I. The 10-episode series already has critics raving thanks to its tightly interweaved structure and piece-by-piece plot revel – this is a director who knows how to unsettle an audience. He seamlessly guides the viewer forward and backwards in time, introducing the tangled lives of the residents – and the secrets they harbour. Already the wild twists and turns of the season finale mean that a second season must happen.
Trust us, this is one that you won’t want to miss.
Dark is available to stream on Netflix now