The Dark, a six-part crime drama adapted from GR Halliday's novel From the Shadows, premieres on ITV1 this Sunday, July 12, at 9pm. The series follows detective Monica Kennedy as she investigates a serial killer operating in the Scottish wilderness, a case that threatens to tear apart a rural community.
Plot and Cast
The official synopsis describes the discovery of a young man's body eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish landscape, sparking fear that this is the beginning of a terrifying campaign. As paranoia rises, locals realize a serial killer is hidden among them. Detective Monica Kennedy, played by Outlander star Laura Donnelly, becomes entangled in a cat-and-mouse game with the cunning killer. However, her own history begins to haunt her, causing her to lose trust in her judgment and putting her family at risk.
The cast also includes Mark Rowley as DC Conor Crawford, Tunji Kasim as Michael Bach, Helen Baxendale as Bethany Morgan, and Emun Elliott as Barclay Adams.
Filming in Scotland
The series was shot across Glasgow and the town of Greenock in Inverclyde last September. The cast and crew praised the Scottish landscape for adding depth to the thriller. Emun Elliott, who plays Barclay Adams, told the Mirror: "Often rural Scotland can be romanticised... but this really shows a different side to that. When we were on location, I was knee deep in mud and rain between takes. That blustery, hardcore weather really has an effect on the characters."
Mark Rowley added: "The landscape is a massive character. In the highlands, everyone is so down in the dumps during winter because it's ridiculously dark. We were getting to the cusp of that stage filming in autumn."
A Different Kind of Scottish Story
Elliott noted that the story, while set in rural Scotland, could be happening anywhere: "Often Scottish stories can be quite inward looking... I like this story. Even though it's set in rural Scotland, it really could be happening anywhere." He also highlighted Scotland's folklore and isolation as perfect for a thriller.
The Dark airs on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, July 12, at 9pm.
