Scottish Murder Spree Drama Stuns Critics with Chilling Portrayal

ITV’s latest six‑part thriller, The Dark, follows Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy as she pursues a serial killer terrorising a remote Scottish community.

The series departs from conventional crime dramas by emphasizing the psychological impact of the murders and the grief of the victims’ families, rather than relying on graphic violence.

Laura Donnelly, who portrays Kennedy, describes the character as an ordinary detective confronting a demanding case, deliberately avoiding the clichéd image of a haunted, genius investigator.

Set against the rugged Highland landscape, the narrative tracks Kennedy’s investigation of a series of murders targeting young men, with each episode interweaving the emotional fallout experienced by the bereaved.

While Kennedy is a mother, the show resists defining her by motherhood, instead presenting her professional responsibilities and personal struggles without the usual gendered expectations.

Production took place in the Scottish wilderness, where cold, wet conditions and limited daylight added authenticity to the series’ bleak atmosphere.

Director Gilles Bannier sought to contrast the region’s stark beauty with the horror of the crimes, creating a persistent sense of unease that permeates the visual style.

Key production details include lead director Gilles Bannier, writers Matt Hartley, Lena Rae and Nessah Muthy, executive producers Matt Hartley, Ben Stephenson, Preethi Mavahalli, Luke Woellhaf and Fern McCauley, and a cast featuring Laura Donnelly, Mark Rowley and Helen Baxendale. The series consists of six 60‑minute episodes and airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

Donnelly hopes the audience will find the series both thrilling and unsettling, while retaining a focus on empathy and the human stories behind the investigation.