Under Salt Marsh review: Flood-stricken crime drama continues the rise of Welsh noir

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A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Like other recent Welsh crime dramas such as Mudtown, The One That Got Away, and Keeping Faith, Under Salt Marsh draws inspiration from the atmospheric style of Scandinavian noir—think cozy sweaters and dramatic, windy scenery. However, this new series might be the darkest and most intensely noir of them all.

This isn’t a light, feel-good mystery like many Harlan Coben stories. It’s a dark and unsettling whodunit, dealing with a parent’s worst fear and set in a consistently gloomy, rain-soaked town. If the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen (‘salt marsh’) were real, it definitely wouldn’t be attracting many tourists.

Claire Oakley first gained recognition with her 2019 film, Make Up, a chilling and realistic horror story set in a quiet, off-season caravan park in Cornwall. Now, she demonstrates her ability to create and sustain a consistently unsettling atmosphere, but this time across six hours of television.

Under Salt Marsh immediately sets a dark and unsettling mood, despite being a slowly unfolding story. The series opens with primary school teacher Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly, displaying a similar strength as in Yellowstone) finding the body of her eight-year-old student, Cefin (Jack Thomas-Humphreys), in the dark marshlands. Was this a simple accident, or is something more sinister happening? The mystery deepens when we learn, through a disturbing flashback, that Cefin had been repeatedly dreaming of being chased into the water and drowning.

Jackie, a former detective, decides to investigate the case herself. She quickly becomes even more involved by telling Cefin’s parents, Shell and Danny, what happened before the police can. The series features several deeply moving scenes – like the family’s heartbroken visit to Cefin’s grave or Danny’s emotional collapse at work – that are truly powerful and upsetting.

Jackie’s help isn’t welcome, especially by Eric Bull (played by Rafe Spall, who unexpectedly uses a Black Country accent). He’s back in town to solve the mystery, and it’s clear their past relationship didn’t end well, as Jackie actively avoids him when they first meet.

A tense conversation reveals that a case from three years ago – the disappearance of Jackie’s niece, which might be linked to Cefin’s death – continues to haunt them and has irrevocably broken their professional relationship. Jackie expresses her shock that he still hasn’t apologized for a deep betrayal, stating she once completely trusted him.

The story slowly reveals that both sides have secrets. Jackie, while possibly interfering with the police investigation, is also secretly meeting with a mysterious man named Dylan, behaving like a teenager sneaking around. Plus, she’s praised by people in town, including her father, for her actions, suggesting a hidden issue from her past is resurfacing.

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Eric is a more mysterious figure, and the strong negative reaction he gets from locals – who accuse him of ruining a family – hints at a troubled past. His uneasy interactions with Gareth, a local environmental researcher who helps with the investigation by sharing crucial information about the rising water levels, also suggest a complicated personal history.

Beyond the central murder mystery, ‘Under Salt Marsh’ explores how climate change affects small communities. Similar to the recent series ‘After the Flood,’ it shows the conflict between those trying to prepare for increasingly severe weather – like Gareth, who urges evacuation, believing ‘you cannot win a war against water’ – and the residents who are determined to stay in their homes.

A paternity issue adds more drama, almost leading to another devastating event. While the story is mostly serious, it has moments of humor. We see Eric return to his pub room soaking wet, and his particular landlady won’t let him in unless he’s down to his underwear. Come for the mystery, but stay for Timothy Spall’s surprisingly revealing scene!

The story is most engaging when it centers on its two potential mysteries, building a fascinating list of suspects that ranges from a local conspiracy theorist to the enigmatic beekeeper described by the two children who disappear.

Don’t anticipate easy explanations. Even after watching the first two episodes, the central questions of why things are happening, who is involved, and how it all unfolds remain largely unanswered, just like at the very beginning.

Despite the bleak setting, the film draws you in thanks to a talented cast – including Jonathan Pryce – beautiful and immersive visuals, and characters that feel incredibly real. You’ll be captivated, even if you’re good at guessing mysteries.

It might not always look it, but the future of Cymru noir is bright.

The first two episodes of Under Salt Marsh will debut on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th, and then a new episode will air each Friday for the following four weeks.

Don’t forget to add ‘Add Under Salt Marsh’ to your watchlist on the TopMob app! Download it today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Jon O’Brien
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2026-01-30 10:44