Dark City: The Cleaner

Dark City: The Cleaner

Watch in the UK

Data provided by

8 / 10

1 Review

Rate this show:

8 Based on 1 Votes

10

0
9

0
8

1
7

0
6

0
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0

Overview

By day, Joe is a cleaner at the police station. But by night, he has another line of work - he's a serial killer who's been dubbed The Christchurch Carver. When another woman is murdered, the police suspect The Carver, but Joe knows it wasn't him.

Media

Dark City: The Cleaner - Trailer | Sky TV

Cast

Chelsie Preston Crayford

Elizabeth Hawthorne

Creator:

Paul Cleave

Fist Air Date:

2024-03-04

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Endeavour Ventures

Genres:

Keywords:

murder new zealand

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.6/10

Vote Count: 18 Votes

Show Popularity: 1.9991

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

View all reviews

Insomniacs Reviews
- 24 April 2026 at 4:18 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
10

0
9

0
8

1
7

0
6

0
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0
⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARYA pitch-black, twisted New Zealand crime drama that finally gives the "polite serial killer" trope a fresh, Antipodean face. Dark City: The Cleaner (2024) follows Joe Middleton (Cohen Holloway), a man who spends his days cleaning the local police station—where he is completely invisible—and his nights as the "Christchurch Carver." The plot thickens when a copycat killer starts messing with his brand, and a potential victim named Melissa (Chelsie Preston Crayford) turns the tables, turning Joe from the predator into the prey. As of April 2026, the series remains a cult favorite in the archive after its sharp six-episode run in 2024. THE PROSCohen Holloway is a total win as Joe; he delivers a sincere, skin-crawling performance that makes you realize just how dangerous a "nobody" can be. The chemistry between him and Chelsie Preston Crayford is 100% authentic tension—the "unholy alliance" they form is a gripping feat of writing. The show is visceral and unapologetically dark, using the rainy, atmospheric streets of Christchurch to create a "Garden City" that feels more like a gothic maze. It’s the "Go To" for a crime show that isn't afraid to make its protagonist utterly irredeemable yet strangely watchable. THE CONSIt hits an 8/10 because the ending was a bit of a head-scratcher for some, leaving several plot threads dangling in a way that felt more like a "damp squib" than a definitive mic-drop. While the six-episode structure keeps the pacing tight, the middle section can feel a bit languid as the police investigation occasionally takes a backseat to Joe’s personal delusions. It misses the 9/10 mark because, by April 2026, there’s still zero word on a second season, leaving this brilliant New Zealand gem feeling a bit like an unfinished symphony. THE VERDICTAn 8/10. It is a genuine, spine-chilling triumph that proves New Zealand can do "Nordic Noir" just as well as the Scandinavians. It’s a bit of a let-down if you were hoping for a traditional hero-vs-villain story, but as a "serial killer vs. serial killer" chess match, it’s a crown jewel. As of today, April 24, 2026, it remains an essential binge for anyone who liked *Dexter* but wished it was more cynical and had better accents. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA* Novel Beginnings: The series is a 100% authentic adaptation of the bestselling novel *The Cleaner* by Paul Cleave, who also served as a writer on the show to keep the "Christchurch Carver" spirit alive.* Hometown Horror: Filming took place on location in Christchurch during 2023, using actual local landmarks to ground the fictionalized murders in a very real setting.* International Reach: While it debuted on NZ’s Neon and Sky Go in March 2024, the series was picked up by Lionsgate for international distribution, making it a "royal" export for Kiwi television.* Directional Pedigree: The show was directed by Rick Jacobson, who has a witty history of handling high-octane drama on shows like *Spartacus* and *Ash vs Evil Dead*.* The 2026 Limbo: Despite critical acclaim and an 8.2+ rating on sites like Insomniacs, as of April 2026, the show has not been officially renewed for a second season, leaving fans to revisit the archive for their fix. THE VIBELike walking home alone through a damp, empty park while the streetlights flicker. It smells of floor wax, wet asphalt, and the metallic tang of a secret that’s about to be dug up.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-03-04

Videos

Dark City: The Cleaner - Trailer | Sky TV

Cast

Chelsie Preston Crayford

Elizabeth Hawthorne

Robbie Magasiva

David de Lautour

Hannah Marshall

Barry Tomkinson

Related Shows To

Dark City: The Cleaner

Reviews for

Dark City: The Cleaner

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 24 April 2026 at 5:18 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
A pitch-black, twisted New Zealand crime drama that finally gives the “polite serial killer” trope a fresh, Antipodean face. Dark City: The Cleaner (2024) follows Joe Middleton (Cohen Holloway), a man who spends his days cleaning the local police station—where he is completely invisible—and his nights as the “Christchurch Carver.” The plot thickens when a copycat killer starts messing with his brand, and a potential victim named Melissa (Chelsie Preston Crayford) turns the tables, turning Joe from the predator into the prey. As of April 2026, the series remains a cult favorite in the archive after its sharp six-episode run in 2024.
THE PROS
Cohen Holloway is a total win as Joe; he delivers a sincere, skin-crawling performance that makes you realize just how dangerous a “nobody” can be. The chemistry between him and Chelsie Preston Crayford is 100% authentic tension—the “unholy alliance” they form is a gripping feat of writing. The show is visceral and unapologetically dark, using the rainy, atmospheric streets of Christchurch to create a “Garden City” that feels more like a gothic maze. It’s the “Go To” for a crime show that isn’t afraid to make its protagonist utterly irredeemable yet strangely watchable.
THE CONS
It hits an 8/10 because the ending was a bit of a head-scratcher for some, leaving several plot threads dangling in a way that felt more like a “damp squib” than a definitive mic-drop. While the six-episode structure keeps the pacing tight, the middle section can feel a bit languid as the police investigation occasionally takes a backseat to Joe’s personal delusions. It misses the 9/10 mark because, by April 2026, there’s still zero word on a second season, leaving this brilliant New Zealand gem feeling a bit like an unfinished symphony.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. It is a genuine, spine-chilling triumph that proves New Zealand can do “Nordic Noir” just as well as the Scandinavians. It’s a bit of a let-down if you were hoping for a traditional hero-vs-villain story, but as a “serial killer vs. serial killer” chess match, it’s a crown jewel. As of today, April 24, 2026, it remains an essential binge for anyone who liked *Dexter* but wished it was more cynical and had better accents.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
* Novel Beginnings: The series is a 100% authentic adaptation of the bestselling novel *The Cleaner* by Paul Cleave, who also served as a writer on the show to keep the “Christchurch Carver” spirit alive.
* Hometown Horror: Filming took place on location in Christchurch during 2023, using actual local landmarks to ground the fictionalized murders in a very real setting.
* International Reach: While it debuted on NZ’s Neon and Sky Go in March 2024, the series was picked up by Lionsgate for international distribution, making it a “royal” export for Kiwi television.
* Directional Pedigree: The show was directed by Rick Jacobson, who has a witty history of handling high-octane drama on shows like *Spartacus* and *Ash vs Evil Dead*.
* The 2026 Limbo: Despite critical acclaim and an 8.2+ rating on sites like Insomniacs, as of April 2026, the show has not been officially renewed for a second season, leaving fans to revisit the archive for their fix.
THE VIBE
Like walking home alone through a damp, empty park while the streetlights flicker. It smells of floor wax, wet asphalt, and the metallic tang of a secret that’s about to be dug up.

Leave a Review Cancel reply