To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Another week, another thriller for fans to dig their teeth into, this time over on Netflix.
The French mystery series, Under A Dark Sun, has already entered the top 10 TV shows on the streamer, promising a ‘heartfelt’ and ‘suspenseful’ experience for viewers who tune into this six-episode drama.
The show follows runaway single mother Alba Mazier (Ava Baya) whose boss, Arnaud Lasserre (Thibault De Montalembert), is killed ‘just hours into starting her new job’.
Now the main suspect, she becomes intertwined in a conspiracy full of ‘deep-rooted secrets and morally grey decisions’.
‘[When] her name mysteriously appears in his will, how far will she go to force the truth from his family?’ the synopsis of the fast-paced miniseries concludes.
Get personalised updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
As teased by Time: ‘What begins as a murder case quickly spirals into something much more complex: a dark family history full of hidden paternity, forced silence, and decades of manipulation.’
The series also stars two-time Oscar nominee Isabelle Adjani as the ill-fated Arnaud’s wife, Beatrice.
The feel of the show has been compared to the likes of Harlan Coben’s mystery thrillers, which have stirred up a storm on the streaming platform with huge viewership for adaptations like Fool Me Once and Missing You.
‘There’s a lot to like about Under A Dark Sun, like Baya’s intensity as Alba and Adjani’s insouciant performance as Beatrice, who seems so unfazed by Arnaud’s death that she wears a pink suit to his funeral and reads a eulogy she created with ChatGPT.
European thrillers you need to watch next
The Devil’s Leap on Channel 4: When a former special forces father takes his daughter on a hike, their bonding opportunity soon takes a turn for the worse when they witness a murder – and are soon being pursued by a gang.
La Fortuna on ITVX: Stanley Tucci stars in this Spanish-American adventure drama based on an incredible true story about a diplomat ‘leading a team of treasure hunters’.
The Glass Dome on Netflix: This Swedish drama follows a criminologist who returns to her small hometown and ‘becomes wrapped up in the investigation of a missing girl and its haunting similarities to her own childhood abduction’.
‘That back and forth between these two very opposite characters should drive the tension in this series,’ Decider wrote in a review.
The Review Geek pointed out the show’s sometimes clunky plotting but added: ‘Under a Dark Sun is an easy binge with strong performances, a compelling lead, and just enough intrigue to carry you through.’
Over on IMDb, user zeksozen called it a ‘tense and intriguing’ and said it was ‘a hidden gem for those who enjoy European crime dramas with a moody, cinematic style’.
Proceed with caution, however, as not all the reviews have been glowing, with some calling it a ‘weird’ storyline filled with sometimes ‘unnecessary twists’.
You’ll have to tune in to decide whether it’s down your alley.
There’s a growing market for European thrillers in the UK, with plenty of options if you find yourself hooked after this one.
Just last week, Channel 4 added a French survival thriller, The Devil’s Leap, which followed a father-daughter duo on a hiking trip gone wrong.
Under A Dark Sun is now available to stream on Netflix.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.