Anthracite

Let me be clear, this is a mess.

The premise is quite interesting and some scenes are quite beautiful and breathtaking and some of the actors are actually believable (kudos to Hatik in particular).

I grew up watching French TV shows and they act like they are on stage and it's either over the top or not acting at all in general...

But with a Netflix budget and actually believing on some of the cast and crew it looked passable.

There are so many faults in the scenario and gaps in the story and it's super annoying... But I did finish it. That's like a plus... Not great, but better than the usual.

I binged watched in two days. From the first episode the story hooks you and then takes you on a crazy, twisty, turny rollercoaster ride right up to the 6th episode. There is so much plot, but you can keep up, I loved Ida from the start, she is endearing, vulnerable and simply a delight, I am not sure why she gets such negative reviews.

The story is jam packed with demon cult activity, protestors, incest, murder, more murder, car chases. Weird mountain people, dead sheep, poison and confused cops. You won't be sorry.

What I really enjoyed, was that it ended without any loose ends and questions. If you love a good thriller with a whole lot of story line, this one's for you.

I was left wanting more...

The Ida character in the beginning does take some getting used to (she can come across as annoying in the first episode) but by the second / third episode the story and characters start to unravel.

A few good plot twists that were unexpected and keeps you guessing till the end.

Six episodes in length also ensures that the story / series is not drawn out with pointless plot fillers and dialogue.

Some negatives: some characters are annoying and some aspects of the plot are not fully explained or seem pointless.

The series delivers just enough to keep you invested. Good watch overall for fans of thriller mystery genre.

Let's start with the lead character, your father is kidnapped because he was a journalist reported on or wrote about a cult that all committed suicide, she writes for some online blog about solving mysteries, murder, suicide, kidnapping, and another amount of other supposedly serious unsolved crimes. She comes off over the top in any encounter she has with people, but her script is vague and shallow, which she somehow thinks she can overcome, wild facial expressions and some weird tattoo on the bottom of her eye. This is uninterest and actually could've been epic if they had gotten someone who knew how to direct someone who had to act And something more than a grade School drama.

Anthracite is set in a small village in the Alps, that was shaken to its core in 1994, when the collective suicide of a sect called Les Ecrins hit the headlines.

Don't let Ida's character irritate you at the beginning of the series, she will change quickly and is much more bearable.

The plot moves around quickly, while the beautiful surroundings of the Swiss Alps make for a great visual backdrop, and the cast makes the most of the many twists and turns that the series has to offer. It delivers a great blend of suspense and humour, making it really intriguing.

Anthracite is the kind of big hamburger full of sauce and ingredients that you know will stain you. And even though there are times when it seems unclear where the show is going, it skillfully keeps things moving forward by adding really good turns and surprises, making for an engaging and exciting story.

The series explores dark themes, leaving the audience intrigued, it is worth the watch!