In this season of wild climate swings — from scorching heatwaves to torrential rain — the more adventurous viewer might go digging for a hidden gem. And here it is: SPHINX! A Dutch series (rare enough to be celebrated), as dark and enigmatic as the unfairly underrated Dark.
SPHINX was written and directed by Diederik van Rooijen, a master of psychological thrillers. His previous works include Taped (2012), Daglicht (2013), and the American thriller The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018). SPHINX is his crown jewel — penned entirely from start to finish.
If you’re looking for popcorn entertainment or a family-sized KFC binge, look elsewhere. SPHINX is a psychological thriller meant to be watched alone — with a strong coffee or a neat whisky.
SPHINX: It’s “Dark” or die!
The series opens with a disappearance: at 13, Minke Moorman vanishes without a trace. Three years later, she returns with a mysterious tattoo of wings on her back — and no memory. As the truth behind her ordeal slowly surfaces, the family’s relief turns into an unending nightmare. The director clearly doesn’t shy away from the explicit — but it’s the psychological tension, more than the gore, that truly chills.
Shot with a cold, stylized cinematography reminiscent of Hannibal, the series cultivates a grim visual beauty that adds to its unsettling atmosphere.
The mystery unfolds through layers of riddles and revelations. The viewer uncovers the truth alongside the characters — what led to Minke’s disappearance, and what brought her back. Beneath the horror lies a slow-burn disintegration of the family unit. In a perfect world, they’d all stand united around her — but in fiction as in life, perfection is a myth.
SPHINX: A fresh take on the psychological thriller
The genre had a revival in the late ’90s with films like Seven and Bones, but since then, it has been largely swallowed up by mass-produced blockbusters. Series like The Killing, Dark, or the recent Swedish drama Meurtres à Åre have opened the door again — but finding a subtle, emotionally powerful thriller remains rare.
SPHINX pulls it off. It’s grounded, credible, and powered by a strong cast. Andrea Vass shines in the central role of Minke Moorman, a traumatized, amnesiac teen marked by an enigmatic tattoo. It’s her first major role — and critics like SerieTotaal have already declared she “deserves high praise”. Supporting her are seasoned Dutch TV actors: Rifka Lodeizen as Eva Moorman, the fragile yet empathetic mother, and Marcel Hensema as Lucas Moorman, the father determined to uncover the truth.
So this summer, if you’re done with lukewarm comedies and endless reruns, give SPHINX a shot. It’s gripping, mysterious, and proves that psychological suspense still has sharp teeth. Forget the family bucket — this is best served solo.
