Dark City: The Cleaner

This is like a low budget Kiwi version of Dexter, but in Dexter you could root for Dexter because he ws killing off sick serial killer scum like our erstwhile villain main character Joe Middleton. The first person thought narration is even more than in Dexter. This creep takes joy in killing random women who did him no harm. So I feel sort of guilty enjoying this based on the sexual sadism angle. But it has a charm and it also paired him with a female version of him Melissa Flowers who at first literally busted his ball with pliers. Then add Joe's awful mom Evelyn and a decent Christian woman who worked as a maintenance man in the same ChristChurch Police Station as our lead psycho. But instead of being a CSI wonk like Dexter, he is a lowly janitor. But like Dexter, he keeps ahead of the cops due to eavesdropping and snooping around. Like I said befoe, it seems immoral to enjoy a show so amoral and vile like this but it has a droll sense of humor and some interesting characters and plot twists too.

My initial reaction was, oh dear, NZ are trying to replicate Dexter. But then, it kind of got to me. I didn't anticipate the ending of episode one, and I loved it. The idiot serial killer certainly doesn't have the charm of Dexter, but, he is more believable as a serial killer. I mean, come on, Michael C Hall is lovely! This dude, does creepy-weird well. The besotted wanna be girlfriend, heck, who doesn't know a Sally? Joe's love for his goldfish is, believable. And the sex scenes on the bus were howlingly funny.

I could have done without the actual murders, and Melissa's orgasmic delight in them, but otherwise her character was a blast and convincingly played. I felt the humour had shades of Dexter to it. Obviously not as well done, but then, I'm picking, they didn't have the same budget.

As a kiwi, I loved that it was so recognisably Christchurch. I loved the narration/inner monologue from Joe. I hope they don't wreck it (like they did Dexter, those last seasons were not good) by dragging it out too long.

Definitely an acquired taste. I can understand why some will think it's terrible. I found it quirky, and rather fun.

I tend to dislike most of the movies and television shows we produce, Once Were Warriors and a few other select few excepting. I'm also a fan of the Dexter series, my wife and I owning this series on DVD even - although that last bonus season ... don't ask.

Dark City The Cleaner is compelling and interesting, whilst light hearted and comedic - with a dark and sinister side to it - most like Dexter, but where Dexter was the kind of Protagonist who was also a bad guy that you liked - DCTC presents a Protagonist who you're not sure if you can like. In fact, everyone feels like a bad guy in this episodic offering.

Because I live in Christchurch, many of the outdoor shots have an air of familiarity for me; and yet I can't relate to this particular vision of Christchurch - and I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

Still I found this to be both funny and dark; and I did manage to enjoy it.

Joe is basically invisible because he doesn't stand out so it makes him a perfect serial killer.

Without spoiling anything, I will also say that if you take a liking to Joe, then you are gonna absolutely, positively, love Melissa! I know I do!!

Very good acting, writing, producing etc .

The down side is the last episode, we were left with a cliffhanger and I personally hate that crap!

At least they gave us 4 episodes instead of one, so mostly pros and a few cons. Hopefully in the upcoming episodes we'll get more of a storyline about Melissa. There are some sketchy people in this series, which makes it so much more interesting.

I see dexter called, it wants its premise back. While the story is good and the pacing is even better, just could not enjoy it, it kept me watching and waiting for more and more to happen and when it did happen i wasn't actually surprised. Was good to see robbie magasiva actually in something else that was away from the prison drama of wentworth. Watching the incompetent cops try to solve the murders while letting a cleaner hear everything was pretty stupid that would not fly anywhere at any station. If there is more, make his next opponent more interesting and we see his life in prison that would be good!