Get ready to sink your teeth into ITV's unapologetically dark new detective drama, 'The Dark', as it drags viewers down a rabbit hole of gruesome murders and twisted motives. This six-part thriller is an adaptation of G.R. Halliday’s crime novel 'From the Shadows', and it's proving to be the perfect antidote to the usual lighthearted summer TV fare.
Against the brooding backdrop of the Scottish countryside, DI Monica Kennedy (Laura Donnelly) and her new partner DC Connor Crawford (Mark Rowley) embark on a blood-soaked mission to track down a serial killer with a taste for teenage boys. The investigation kicks off with a gruesome discovery: a naked young victim left in the wilderness like a twisted piece of art.
'The Dark' hits the ground running, hurtling viewers into a world of rapid revelations and mounting terror. As bodies pile up and secrets spill out, it becomes clear that this killer's MO is both chillingly calculated and horrifically brutal – infiltrating their victims' lives, paralysing them in their own homes, and leaving them arranged like gruesome dolls.
While the plot may occasionally veer into 'so-bad-it's-good' territory, Laura Donnelly shines as the brilliant-but-battered DI Kennedy, infusing her character with the necessary snark and haunted intensity. Supporting actress Helen Baxendale also brings a searing conviction to her portrayal of a grieving mother.
Despite borrowing from familiar genre templates, 'The Dark' refuses to back down – instead, it leans into its dark impulses, offering an unapologetically addictive fix for anyone craving a gritty, grisly drama. With the tennis courts and football pitches still dominating the headlines, this series is a much-needed injection of adrenaline for fans of psychological thrillers.