In 42 Days of Darkness, now streaming on Netflix, a woman’s world is shattered when her sister disappears seemingly out of thin air. As the weeks drag on and fingers are pointed at family members and other parties, it feels as though the truth might never see the light of day. This Chilean crime drama is based on the true story of Viviana Haeger, a woman whose 2010 disappearance baffled her family and her community. We’re here to let you know if this true crime drama is worth adding to the queue.
Opening Shot: A woman waves in a home video.
The Gist: Cecilia (Claudia Di Girólamo) can’t give up looking for her sister Veronica (Aline Küppenheim). It’s been weeks since she went missing, but she continues to post signs and pray for some kind of lead in the case. Despite her relentless search for the truth, Cecilia’s entire world comes crashing down when she learns that her sister’s been found – but she’s not alive. This is seemingly only the beginning of the nightmare, a nightmare that began June 29, 2010, where the show takes us next.
Veronica is a devoted mother and loving sister, though her marriage to Mario (Daniel Alcaíno) is on the strained side. June 29 seems like a normal day; Veronica makes her daughters Kari and Emi breakfast, gets them ready, and sees them off as Mario drives them to school. When Kari comes home to discover her mother absent and her belongings strewn all over the bedroom, however, it becomes obvious that something is not right. She calls her aunt and her father, who gets the police involved, and it quickly escalates into a full-blown investigation. Mario claims to have received a phone call from someone threatening to harm his wife, and as the authorities swoop in – including a lawyer looking for his next big case and more than a few glory-hungry detectives – the drama only increases. Tired of the big show and lack of credible leads, Veronica’s sister Cecilia begins digging into things on her own.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Some other crime dramas like 42 Days of Darkness include The Killing, Broadchurch, and Safe.
Our Take: With series like The Staircase, Under the Banner of Heaven, and Candy all dominating their respective platforms, it seems as though true crime dramas are everywhere these days. 42 Days of Darkness is the latest to hop on this bandwagon, not quite as star-studded or well-executed as the aforementioned series, but chilling and engaging all the same. 42 Days of Darkness is loosely based on the true disappearance and murder of Viviana Haeger, who vanished from her home in 2010 and was found 42 days later decomposing in the attic of that same home. It’s a devastating, often mind-boggling case, one that makes it the perfect target for the true crime treatment. 42 Days of Darkness wisely chooses to focus on its characters rather than nailing the details of the case, creating some truly interesting people in the process. Whether we’re watching Veronica’s sister Cecilia doggedly hunt for the truth, her suspicious husband Mario concoct strange stories, or her eldest daughter Kari reconcile with the events in her own way, we’re getting some fascinating television out of the whole thing. Even the side characters like the lawyer hungry for his chance to weasel his way into this or the detective with a soft spot for Veronica’s young daughters help to round out this well-balanced cast. The series might not always be sensitive to the very real people who experienced this tragedy, but it takes its time crafting each painstaking, moody moment, delivering a dark, atmospheric drama bound to suck in even casual true crime fans.
Sex and Skin: None.
Parting Shot: Veronica stands by the water’s edge in the home video that opened the episode.
Sleeper Star: Pablo Macaya’s Victor Pizarro charmed me almost immediately with his zany mustache and snarky attitude. Watching him switch off his cavalier persona and get serious about this case is one of the most compelling pieces of the pilot installment; he gets invested in Veronica’s disappearance quickly, working harder than the cops to try to figure this whole thing out (even if he’s really only got his own best interest at heart). Macaya is one of the most memorable, engaging members of the cast. He really helps to liven things up.
Most Pilot-y Line: No pilot-y stuff here – 42 Days of Darkness is strictly business.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Armed with top-notch performances, 42 Days of Darkness delivers a moody, intriguing pilot, one that wastes no time hooking viewers with chilling drama.
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.