Of all the episodes in Black Mirror's latest season, Loch Henry hits a haunting sweet spot—eerie, clever, and deeply unsettling in a way that lingers long after the credits roll. It ditches the usual tech-heavy setup and goes straight for something more grounded, but no less chilling: true crime obsession, generational trauma, and small-town secrets.
Recap (Spoiler Warning):
The story follows Davis (Samuel Blenkin), a young filmmaker who returns to his sleepy Scottish hometown with his girlfriend Pia (Myha’la Herrold). The plan is to make a nature documentary… until Pia stumbles across a local legend involving a string of grisly murders from the early ’90s. Instead of puff pieces about birdwatchers, they pivot to investigating the case—centered around a reclusive man named Iain Adair.
As they begin uncovering the past, they interview townsfolk and Davis’s own mother, Janet (Monica Dolan), who seems oddly hesitant about digging up the story. The couple discovers old VHS tapes in Janet’s storage—and then the twist hits like a ton of bricks: not only were Davis’s parents connected to the murders, but they were involved in filming them.
The shocking revelation reframes everything—and ends in tragedy. Pia dies in a freak accident, and Davis finishes the documentary alone. The film becomes a true-crime sensation. But Davis, now alone and emotionally hollow, watches from a hotel room as the world celebrates his family’s monstrous legacy.
Review:
Loch Henry succeeds by feeling disturbingly plausible. Unlike the more speculative tech in episodes like “Joan Is Awful” or “White Christmas,” this one is rooted in reality—people's obsession with true crime, the commodification of trauma, and how easily dark history gets turned into binge-worthy content.
The tone is perfectly controlled. It starts almost quaint—rolling hills, awkward hometown conversations, slow pacing—then slowly curdles into something bleak and claustrophobic. By the end, it's not just the plot twist that hits hard—it's the moral emptiness it leaves behind.
Samuel Blenkin gives a subtle, devastating performance as Davis, especially in the final scenes. Monica Dolan is chilling in retrospect, and Myha’la Herrold brings a grounded curiosity to Pia that makes her fate all the more tragic.
This is Black Mirror at its best—no flashy dystopias, just a mirror turned toward our current culture of voyeurism and monetized horror.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
“Loch Henry” is a slow-burning gem—bleak, brilliant, and disturbingly believable. If you're a fan of Black Mirror episodes that feel a little too close to home, this one’s a must-watch.
