The opening shot of Anthracite lingers on a misty Alpine peak, its jagged silhouette cutting through the gray sky like a blade—a fitting metaphor for the series’ central mystery and the sharp secrets buried beneath the surface of Lévionna, a small mountain town in the French Alps. This six-part Netflix limited series, created by Fanny Robert and Maxime Berthemy, unfolds as a slow-burn thriller that blends crime, drama, and a touch of the supernatural, all while grappling with the lingering trauma of a cult’s dark legacy.

At its heart, Anthracite follows Ida Heilman (Noémie Schmidt), a web sleuth whose journalist father, Solal (Jean-Marc Barr), disappears under mysterious circumstances. Her investigation leads her to Lévionna, where she teams up with Jaro Gatsi (Hatik), an ex-convict with his own ties to the town’s sordid past. Their search for answers uncovers a tangled web of deceit, secrecy, and death linked to a cult that was active in the town thirty years earlier. The series is loosely inspired by the real-life Order of the Solar Temple, a group responsible for several mass suicides in the 1990s, but it takes enough creative liberties to craft its own haunting narrative.

The Alpine scenery is undeniably striking, with sweeping shots of snow-capped peaks and dense forests that add an atmospheric depth to the story. The production’s commitment to ecological sensitivity—measured by an “eco-referent” and partially offset by Netflix’s donation of 1% of the carbon cost to environmental groups—is a commendable effort, even if it doesn’t always translate into a seamless viewing experience.

Where Anthracite truly shines is in its performances. Noémie Schmidt delivers a nuanced portrayal of Ida, capturing her determination and vulnerability as she navigates the treacherous waters of Lévionna’s secrets. Hatik, known primarily as a rapper, brings an unexpected gravitas to his role as Jaro, infusing the character with a mix of toughness and introspection. Camille Lou, as police officer Giovanna Deluca, adds another layer of complexity to the ensemble, while Kad Merad provides a memorable turn as Claude Chevallier, Jaro’s uncle.

The overarching mystery is compelling, with each episode carefully peeling back layers of the town’s dark history. The pacing, however, can feel uneven at times. Some episodes drag, weighed down by exposition and meandering subplots that don’t always pay off. The series’ attempt to blend supernatural elements with its crime drama foundation also feels slightly disjointed, as if it can’t quite decide whether to lean into the eerie or stick to the grounded.

The final act of Anthracite delivers a satisfying resolution, tying up loose ends in a way that feels both unexpected and earned. The series’ exploration of cults, trauma, and the power of secrets is thought-provoking, even if its execution isn’t always flawless.