Dark City: The Cleaner

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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

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Dark City: The Cleaner - Trailer | Sky TV

Cast

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Cohen Holloway
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Chelsie Preston Crayford
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Dea Doglione
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Elizabeth Hawthorne

Review

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  1. Insomniacs Reviews
    8 Based on 1 Votes
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    ⭐ 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.

Creator:
Paul Cleave
Fist Air Date:
2024-03-04
Episode Runtime:
undefinedm
Production Companies:
Endeavour Ventures
Genres:
Crime Drama
Keywords:
murder new zealand
More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.6/10

Vote Count: 18 Votes

Show Popularity: 2.4382

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

TV Show Poster

Season 1

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-03-04

Videos

Dark City: The Cleaner - Trailer | Sky TV

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Dark City: The Cleaner

Comment (1)

  1. Insomniacs Reviews

    ⭐ 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.

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