Dark City: The Cleaner

In New Zealand, Joe Middleton (Cohen Holloway) is a meek janitor in a police station to most people. To his victims, he is a serial killer known as The Christchurch Carver. He carefully picks his female targets while the audience listens to his inner monologue. A victim is added, but he didn't kill her. It could be a copycat and he intends to solve the case. He encounters Melissa Flowers (Chelsie Preston Crayford) who is more than his match.

This is a serial killer working behind enemy lines. Certainly, there are elements of Dexter here. Then there is Melissa Flowers. She comes out of nowhere and shocks us as well as Joe at the end of the pilot. She's crazy and a terrific black comedy generator. It puts the show off-kilter and I like it. It does suggest more seasons, but I don't know if this New Zealand show is continuing.

I don't know where to start...but the review saying if you like Dexter then you'll like this is stretching the truth... and then some.

The show is about a cleaner that works in a police station but outside office hours he's a serial killer.

And that's where the Dexter similarity ends. Dexter had a likeable protagonist, fantastic writing, great storylines and even though it was far fetched, it almost felt plausible. It also had incredible music.

This is the polar opposite. Awful writing, a stupid and unbelievable protagonist who's so dumb, but has flashes of genius, so it's silly, and the plot holes are insane. Any sensible human, especially if you're male, would fully get this within 5 minutes of episode 2.

In what universe does an active serial killer investigation give unfettered access to a cleaner seeing all files, crime scene photos, and he gets to hear police openly discussing it while he's in the room??

As for Melissa....are you serious???

The other plot holes would be spoilers so I can't say but if you can get to episode 3 then you deserve a pat on the back because it was during this episode I quit so I'd stop constantly shaking my head and rolling my eyes, and asking myself 'What am I doing watching this?'

Terrible, but they get 2 stars cos the music isn't that bad.

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.

I've never watched a kiwi show before and did not know what this was when I downloaded it but it was dark fun for me. I think if you go into it expecting Dexter you will be disappointed but if you take it for the fun murderous romp that it is you can enjoy it. It doesnt take itself too seriously and is an easy binge.

Now I have to manage 200 more characters so I'm from Ohio, I found Sally kind of cute, maybe not wife cute but fooling around and free sandwiches cute for sure. I dont know how this stacks up against other shows from that strange land but like I said this to me was a fun easy binge- I've met the character threshold so thanks for playing.

***OK now I've finished the series and need to update the review*** The Dexter fanboys that are disparaging this show are wrong and filled with blind Dexter fanboy rage- it has Dexter themes but is different i many ways and stayed fast paced and fun throughout all 6 episodes and had a strong ending that lets it stand as a good one season effort but also leaves the door open to series two if it goes that way.

I've told a few friends about it already and told one specifically who was not familiar with Dexter that they need to watch this first so as not to be blinded by Dexters brilliance. If you arent comparing it it stands up as a fun and strong show- so lighten dudes and let yourself enjoy a fun new show!

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.