The Darkness (2024)

Expectations for the six-part The Darkness are high. On board is the well-known director Lasse Hallström (My Life as a Dog) in his first international series. Lena Olin, Shetland actor Douglas Henshall and the crème de la crème of the Icelandic acting guild, including Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Trapped), also make an appearance. However, The Darkness is a bit of a disappointment. The series ticks off almost all the clichés of Nordic Noir, including the unstable detective with a range of private problems. In The Darkness, only English is spoken. A strange and unnatural choice.

Detective Hulda (Lena Olin - Hunters, Riviera, and wife of director Hallström) sinks her teeth into an ice cold case of a missing woman. Hulda is about to retire - but doesn't want to say goodbye just yet - and regularly swims in open water. The fit and expressive Olin (69) acts forced, especially in the recordings together with her serial husband Jón. Admittedly, Olin is not helped by the wooden script for these scenes.

At the same time, The Darkness has its moments. Although the series never really gets exciting, you can still call the plot somewhat surprising. The pleasant atmosphere and good flow are reminiscent of True Detective: Night Country and Karppi. But just like in the series Landscapers, the intimate family ties between the lead actor and the director (daughter Tora Hallström also plays a part) do not necessarily lead to a nail-biting thriller.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Reasonable series where the story, and ending, around husband Jon was perhaps even more interesting than the story around the missing women. If the US had not contributed to this series, the result would probably have been better, because Iceland has produced some pretty good crime series. The landscape was at least about the best thing about this series. The somewhat strange ending leaves a big opening for a second season. But will that happen?

Translated from Dutch · View original