Channel 4’s Walter Presents is a treasure trove of international murder mysteries, and if you’re in the mood to play armchair detective, we have the perfect new case for you to untangle. Set in the French village of Mouthe, which is quite literally full of secrets, Polar Park is the sensationally good crime drama that sees a Parisian crime writer pulled into a series of gruesome murders - and it's so good, you'll want to binge it in one go.
The crime novelist at the centre of it is David Rousseau (Jean-Paul Rouve), who's suffering with a severe case of writer’s block. To overcome his inspiration draught, he sets off to the coldest village in France, with the hope of getting to the bottom of a long-buried family secret. But instead, his personal investigation turns into something far darker when an art-loving killer sets off on a ruthless string of murders.
With Polar Park coming Channel 4 imminently, here’s everything you need to know about the series before you watch it, including the plot, cast and release date.
What is Polar Park about?
What lengths would you go to solve writer’s block? Most sufferers might travel abroad for a change of scenery, or perhaps read some of their favourite books to try and spark some inspiration. But Polar Park introduces us to David Rousseau (Jean-Paul Rouve), a struggling crime novelist who decides to take a more extreme course of action to alleviate the condition. The six-part series, which originally aired in France in 2023, kicks off with David’s search to answer a long-buried family secret after the death of his mother, who made a confession to a monk decades earlier. He travels to the bitterly cold and secluded mountain village of Mouthe - where a more sinister web of mysteries await him.
Upon his arrival, there's a murder, and the victim has been dressed up to imitate a Van Gogh painting. From there starts a gruesome chain of killings, all of which are staged as famous works of art. Teaming up with a local police officer, Louvetot (Guillaume Gouix), the duo embark on the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse as they try to stop the killer who continues to taunt them with cryptic clues. Will they ever get to the bottom of the frenzied murderer's creative craze? Or will David get carried away with his own literary imagination?
Who’s in the cast of Polar Park?
The cast of Polar Park includes:
What to read next
- Jean-Paul Rouve (Consent) as David Rousseau
- Guillaume Gouix (The Crew) as Adjudant Louvetot
- India Hair (Three Friends) as Aurélie Poulidor
- Pierre Lottin (When Fall is Coming) as Ulrich Becherel
- Firmine Richard (8 Women) as Commandante Bellerose
- Soliane Moisset (Muganga) as Niki/Igritt
- Adel Djemai (Christine) as Lyès
- Gaspard Meier-Chaurand (The Green Gang) as Hugo
- Julien Drion (Simple) as Mc Cree
- Jérémy Barlozzo (Scroll) as Brigadier Barlozzo
- Féodor Atkine (Watchmen) as Le Chaman
- Jean-Claude Drouot (Capitaine Marleau) as Frère Joseph
- Olivier Rabourdin (Last Summer) as Frère Auguste
Is there a trailer for Polar Park?
Yes - you can watch the French trailer for Polar Park below.
How can I watch Polar Park?
Polar Park is coming to Channel 4 Streaming on Friday 19th June.
Is Polar Park any good?
Yes - if you’re a fan of a an unconventional, original and atmospheric murder mysteries, we’d recommend tuning in to Polar Park. The writer, Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, offers a fresh French spin on the classic whodunnit, with deadpan humour featuring throughout the series. While it’s more light-hearted than other Walter Presents offerings, such as the eery German-language detective drama, The Marnow Murders, the mystery at the centre of it is just as compelling. The series even picked up the prestigious Vidocq Prize for best French police show at Series Mania in Lille.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after a darker foreign-language crime drama, we'd suggest adding Hellground to your watchlist. When Dr. Fabian Lambert (August Wittgenstein) moves to a sleepy village in Germany’s Black Forest, a series of mysterious murders unfold - but are they connected to his arrival? All episodes of Hellground are available to watch now on Channel 4. For something cosier, we'd suggest Hudson & Rex. Detective Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) of the St. John’s Major Crimes unit and his impressive K9 German Shepherd, Rex, team up to solve crimes and they make quite the formidable duo. Hudson & Rex is available to stream on U now.
