User reviews

...which appeared out of the blue here in Denmark on SkyShowtime.

I was pleasently surprised by the plot and twists, episode after episode. I won't spoil anything, but I bet ya that you can't figure out whodunnit. Love the cold setting that Island is too. Very vibey, moody and beautiful.

I've always liked Lena Olin, who I really "discovered" when watching "Romeo is Bleeding", also starring Gary Oldman. She gives a heartfelt, stellar performance in this series, as a mom and tough detective. It's really top notch.

Also very good performance from Jack Bannon, which I haven't seen before in a major role. Note to self: Check out his other work.

And as the cherry on the topping is that the series is directed by Lasse Hallström, which also directed the excellent "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" from 1993 starring Johnny Depp and other great movies. And it shows. The directing is tight, beautiful and to the point.

Definitely recommend this series.

Here's hoping for season 2.

We watched other Icelandic crime series before so we had high expectations, especially seeing Douglas Henshall's name amongst the actors, but we were soon disappointed. The conversations were absurd at points, serious plotholes, unexplored themes. The acting was terrible, especially Lena Olin. It was theatrical and ridiculous. The only actor who was almost good was Jack Bannon. We really wanted to believe that it could get better as we watch but no; it got worse and worse, to the point where we could not watch the last 20 minutes. Everything was cringe. It is sad that this story was butchered, it could have been good if it was done differently.

Was expecting a cheesy theatrical Icelandic cop drama but was pleasantly suprised to find a beautiful, suspensful and unpredictable series. The Icelandic actors really stood out as proper good even though they were not acting in their mother tongue. Björn Hlynur and Thorvaldur were great!

Lena Olin was a bit stiff at first but as the series plays out her character deepens and her acting starts fitting the character better. Bannon was great!

Cinematography and lighting was top notch and the aerials were superb in the low light conditions. Street lights, snow and tire tracks are a suprisingly pretty combo, who knew?

Definitely recommend.

I normally don't leave reviews but felt compelled to write one after watching this series.

The topic itself is an important one. However the execution of the series is only for effect without any background.

The plot starts interesting but quickly gets worse. The last episode is just plain ridiculous to the point where I could hardly bare the stupidity of the plot.. There are gross inconsistencies in the story, the dialog is minimal and the contents just get worse. I watched it with friends and we all felt cheated of a good story in the end. Do not watch it. This is a complete waste of time.

I have seen many of the Nordic Noir / Crime series such as The Bridge, The Killing, Wallander, Beck, Trapped, Valhalla Murders, Karppi, etc. And I can assure you that this is one of the worst series in this genre that I have ever watched. The acting is so overreacting that you cannot stand it and I did not like the way how Lena Olin performs. On the other hand, there are plotholes in this series. I wish it was not so easy to guess who the killer was. It did not meet my expectations at all and I recommend you to skip these series and instead watch Den Som Draeber (Those Who Kill) series instead of wasting your time with this one. I give 3 over 10 only because it was filmed in Iceland.

I really enjoyed this show. As usual, Lasse. Halstrom makes every shot beautiful. Lena Olin was very powerful in the lead, and the writing is strong. The finale missed the mark a little as far as intensity goes, and there were a few things that didn't make sense, such as a bloody clue that was confusing, but overall the show has interesting characters and is compelling drama. They took a huge leap from the book, which was essentially a long internal monologue of Hulda's, the lead character. I can understand if some people don't like the departures the show takes from the book, but I found them inventive and refreshing.

I love most Nordic shows because they are usually so much better than the American pap.

Sadly, this show, though filmed in Iceland, with mostly Icelandic actors & pretending to be Icelandic, is simply too Americanised.

The script is not genuine, in that it's not the type of language I'd expect to hear from a Nordic show.

I also prefer the shows that I watch to be in its native language, not Icelanders speaking English!

To make matters worse, you have a British actor turning up as a 'returning to Iceland' cop, a Scotsman as a neighbour & a yank thrown in for good measure.

This is something that I don't want to see.

I'm pretty disappointed because I was expecting one of those terrific Nordic cop shows.

This one isn't my cup of tea at all.

I loved this show! It has a great atmosphere and flow, great acting and a really good story. I like the fact that, while watching it, you feel like it's not a series and you're a part of it somehow.

I am giving it 8 instead of 9 or 10 simply for the fact that the ending (last scene especially) was kinda weird and you are left feeling like there's another episode after to wrap the story up. I actually had to go online and make sure that there are 6 episodes and not more because the ending left the audience with some questions.

Anyway, Lasse Hallström (the director) and Lena Olin (main actress), as well as everyone else in the cast, did a phenomenal job.

If you are a fan of crime/mystery genre, I definitely recommend to check this one out.

After the other wonderful Icelandic TV series, like "Trapped" and "The Minister", this was such let down. First of all, why on earth were they speaking in English? Like the silly US versions of great series, such as "The Bridge" etc., someone needs to tell them that we love the authenticity of hearing the Nordic languages and voices.

And why was it necessary to have non Icelandic crew and actors? The reason why Nordic TV is so popular is because of the Nordic script writers, crew and actors.

Trying too hard to be like US, British series won't work. There is a reason why shows like 'The Killing", "The Eagle, "Thin Ice" etc. Are so well thought of is because they are innovative. They go well beyond the paint by numbers US pap and British "cosy" war time stories.

Some absolutely great parts here - the photography, the field locations, Reykjavik looks beautiful. There are also some weak red-herrings in the plot. Also, some real acting talent is available but Doug Henshall from "Shetland" is completely wasted in a nothing and pointless role. But it's all squandered on a poor and poorly stitched-together narrative that felt rushed to a conclusion. Too many plot lines went nowhere, too many ideas thrown in (misogyny, indigenous and migrant bigotry), character motivations were poorly articulated and the lead actress had a cryptically explained personality and background too say the least.

Really disappointing.

Wow, I just finished The Darkness, and I'm blown away. This show is everything I've been craving in a Nordic noir series. The way they've captured Iceland's raw beauty while weaving in such a gripping and emotional story - chef's kiss! Lena Olin's performance as Hulda is on another level. She brings so much depth and vulnerability to the character, making you root for her even when things get dark (pun intended).

The writing? Next level. Every episode is tightly crafted, but episode four? No spoilers, but WOW. It completely floored me. The twists, the tension, the emotional punch - it's a standout moment in the series and just shows how strong the storytelling is overall.

I've seen some people complain that it's in English instead of Icelandic, and while I get where they're coming from, I think it's kind of unfair to judge the entire show on that. The language choice doesn't take away from the story. If anything, it makes the show more accessible to a wider audience, and that's a good thing, right?

This isn't just another cookie-cutter crime drama. It's layered, emotional, and visually stunning. Every shot feels deliberate, like it's pulling you deeper into Hulda's world. Plus, the blend of Icelandic talent with international production just WORKS.

If you're hesitating because of some of the negative reviews, don't. Watch it. Judge it for yourself. Trust me, you're in for a treat.

Everyone who reviewed this series so far has a valid point and, taken their individual pint of view, is accurate in his or her review. Not much to add here other than, for me, it was a huge disappointment. Only the addition of Jack Bannon, kept me from watching the series to it's torturous end.

What really got to me was the incredibly bad depiction of the Icelandic police force. If taken at face value, every policeman and policewoman is either an utter moron or too lazy to work. Everything in this series related to police work, police procedures and internal police management is so wrong, one questions the sanity of the person who wrote the script.

This could have been an excellent psychological twister-thriller, if the writer(s) wouldn't have assumed that the general viewing audience is comprised of morons as well.

3 Stars for the otherwise good, not great, performances of the lead actors and, of course, Jack Bannon.

This show just isn't worth your time. I tried to give it a chance, but after watching two episodes, I couldn't bring myself to continue. The pacing feels sluggish, and the story lacks any real hook to keep you invested. The characters are uninspired, and the dialogue often falls flat, making it hard to connect with anyone on screen. Additionally, the predictable political correctness woven into the narrative feels forced and unnecessary, detracting from any potential intrigue. Overall, the series feels unoriginal, lacking excitement or depth. It blends into the sea of standard content without leaving any lasting impression. Save yourself the time and skip this one.

I wás a fan of Lena Olin. She had a convincing role in Havana, but she and her coactors play horribly bad in The Darkness. The feeling of discomfort is also created by the choice of the makers to let English be the language in this Islandic story. The whole setting is so not-convincing and laughable at time because of the overacting, that I stopped watching. A pity because these series are well shot in this beautiful picturesque country. But the dialogue is also total crap. Not logical at all. Olin should sue the makers to contract her while not getting support of a good director. But, okay, it was her choice to sign the contract.

Really bad , fake acting . No real Icelandic feel , so many much better series out there. Why is it in English ??? The lead role horrible , so pretentious , really unnatural , overemotional . She moves , speaks and behaves like she was acting in school play.. Do not recommend. Sometimes some characters behave so irrationally, destroying the plot , they stop when they should run and make stupid decisions noone would ever make like discussions. With the villain in the middle of a frosty night or walking almlst naked into a dark and cold night . No real tension , no suspense . I finished it just to find out whether it improves at any point. It does not .