Zachary Donohue’s faux true crime docuseries The Unknowable was a zippy, trippy little treat that managed to communicate everything it needed to in just 38 minutes, across 10 bite-sized installments. With The Unknowable: Darkland, Donohue remains onboard but hands the reins over to Kyle Cooper, who directs each episode alongside co-writing them with Brandon Sean Pearson and Kevin Swanstrom. This time around, the instalments clock in at 21-23 minutes a pop, with eight in total, making Darkland considerably longer than its predecessor. Although this allows for a wider scope and further experimentation, it also means there’s considerably more fat on its bones, which often robs the series of the inherent eeriness that made The Unknowable so effective.
Ostensibly about a disgraced cop, Detective Fairbanks (Robert Briscoe Evans), on the trail of a missing teenager named Tammy Gillis (Christine Schlehuber), who vanished at the local abandoned amusement park following the murders of her five friends, The Unknowable: Darkland travels back in time to tell an incredibly layered cosmic horror story. At times, it’s a little hard to follow, despite the reliably terrific performance from returning narrator Sean Burgos. There’s a massive amount of information to take in at all times, alongside what’s being wordlessly acted out onscreen, and the format definitely takes some getting used to (there will be those who simply cannot get on its wavelength either). But Darkland is never less than compelling, even in its fluffier moments.
It helps that the slick but grainy footage is hugely evocative. Once again comprising stock footage blended expertly with newly-captured sequences featuring a cast of eccentric performers – all three of the male leads have long hair, suggesting all ne’er-do-wells adopt a certain look – the series is utterly convincing as a tale of true crime woe. In the age of AI, it’s especially heartening to watch something like Darkland, which takes genuine pride in showcasing real people doing real stuff on camera, however weird and wild it might be. Cooper presents the present-day footage, set in 1978, in full color while the old-timey stuff is in gorgeous monochrome. Aside from marking a clear delineation between the two time periods, it’s a clever shorthand for when something is more fairytale-like, as in a story about a freak show mermaid who’s actually suffering from a painful skin condition.
There are some legitimately frightening sequences, many of which include creepy voice notes, and the tone is expertly established early on, and maintained throughout. However, unlike its predecessor, The Unknowable: Darkland finds room for humor too. Far from dry, Burgos’ narration is lively, with several well-placed witty lines, such as: “He watched her day and night…but mostly night.” Smash cuts are also judiciously used for comic relief, like when a clip of two cats fighting is utilized to signify a bloody brawl. Many of these choices were likely made to save money, but they give the series a unique flavor that chimes well with paying homage to The Twilight Zone and Unsolved Mysteries. Cooper builds on what these iconic shows established without negating the necessaries.
Performance-wise, it’s tough for anybody to stick out since there are so many different story elements competing for our attention. Paul LeSchofs gives it loads as the diabolical Vlad, who believes he’s a vampire but still worships Jesus (LOL), while Hannah Howzdy is heartbreaking as the doomed Theodosia, communicating a lifetime of hurt through just her eyes. It should be noted, though, that the cast is almost exclusively white, which is disappointing in the year of our lord 2026. As with The Unknowable, the standout performance comes from Burgos’ insanely listenable narration. Considering how much longer Darkland is, imagining the amount of material he had to nail down for it is truly mind-boggling. And Burgos sells the hell out of it.
Donohue’s original series covered aliens, religious zealots, a serial killer, and a witch without feeling overstuffed. Although there are plenty of great ideas in its follow-up – the nightmare-inducing Pokey Possum is a terrifying creation, while the town of Hyperion, OK, is an ideal setting for murder and mayhem – Darkland suffers from trying to do too much at once. The central mystery simply isn’t compelling enough to justify sticking with it for the guts of three hours. In fact, there are several moments when the gripping side stories that feed into Tammy’s disappearance make you forget about her entirely. The payoff is a bit meh too, but this may be because it takes so long to get there. Still, it’s always more admirable when a filmmaker takes a big swing like this, rather than playing it safe and not even trying to do anything new.
The Unknowable: Darkland certainly won’t be for everyone, but it’s easy to imagine a niche cohort combing through the series to excavate the biggest clues and easter eggs. For the rest of us, this is an impressively watchable enterprise that isn’t without its dark delights, provided you’re willing to stick with it.
The Unknowable: Darkland is streaming on Amazon Prime and on the Screambox app now
WICKED RATING: 7/10
Director(s): Kyle Cooper
Writer(s): Kyle Cooper, Brandon Sean Pearson, Kevin Swanstrom
Stars: Sean Burgos, Hannah Howzdy, Christine Schlehuber, Robert Briscoe Evans, Paul LeSchofs
Release date: February 2026 (Amazon Prime and Screambox app)
Language: English
Run Time: 8 instalments, averaging 21-23 minutes each
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