Watch Dark Tourist

The Netflix original series Dark Tourist takes the audience on a journey through locations that are widely considered taboo, morbid or dangerous, as seen through the eyes of New Zealand journalist David Farrier. The show touches upon the uneasy feeling of voyeurism mixed with the heightened sense of curiosity as David meets guides and local experts who help him gain access to these otherwise inaccessible and off-limits locations around the world.

The series is divided into 8 episodes, each with a different location that David visits. In the first episode, viewers get a glimpse of the Medellin in Colombia, which was once known as the home of famed drug lord Pablo Escobar. David visits slums, meets the hitman who killed Escobar and even visits sites associated with the cult of Santa Muerte. Throughout the episode, we see David's curiosity grow as he tries to understand why people are drawn to visiting these dark locations.

In another episode, David explores the “suicide forest” of Aokigahara in Japan, which averages around 100 suicides a year, with some hikers reportedly choosing to die there. David interviews locals, who take him on a trek through the dense forest and explain the reasons behind people who choose to take their own lives, many of whom visit the place because of the belief that the forest spirits will take care of them. In a different episode, David travels to Kazakhstan to visit the site of nuclear testing, where many locals are still suffering from the effects of radiation poisoning.

The series covers other dark tourism hotspots like New Orleans, which still carries the scars of Hurricane Katrina, the forbidden city of Turkmenistan and a haunted hotel in the USA. It also touches upon some contemporary issues like the refugee crisis in Europe, as David visits an abandoned village on the border between Croatia and Serbia, which is now inhabited only by refugees.

Throughout the series, David's curiosity and candid approach to filming set the tone for each episode. He is not afraid to participate in the experiences and often immerses himself in the culture of the location, giving the viewer a true insider's perspective. At times, this can be unsettling, especially when he finds himself in dangerous situations.

What adds to the charm of Dark Tourist is the tone of the show, which is neither exploitative nor voyeuristic. David often questions the ethics of dark tourism, but acknowledges that people are drawn to these places out of genuine curiosity. He does well to ensure that his interactions with locals show a great deal of respect for their culture and also highlights some of the economic benefits to tourism in the areas he visits.

The show has a bold and cinematic look with elaborate shots that add to the aesthetic of the overall experience. David's narration carries the audience through each episode, not lingering too long on any one subject and often injecting some humor into the stories. The show's crescendo spells an element of discovery as David looks for answers to various questions he has related to dark tourism.

In conclusion, Dark Tourist is well worth a watch for anyone interested in exploring more off-the-beaten-path locations around the world, as well as offering insights into the hot-button issues of our times. The show offers a unique blend of curiosity and respect towards the traditions and people from the locations visited, while also recognizing the potential ethical issues associated with dark tourism. It may take you on an emotional rollercoaster but it will offer up a unique perspective that is not often appreciated by the mainstream tourist brochures.

Dark Tourist is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between July 20, 2018 and on Netflix