Juri and his father Jaschek are moving into an old building on the outskirts of the city. While Jaschek, as the new caretaker of the building, is taking care of the broken heating, Juri is threatened by a gang and meets various unhappy neighbours.

There’s very little comfort or colour in Sky’s new horror series, an 8-part German language serial that is grim to the extreme. Set in a dilapidated, brutalist concrete structure, filled with terrifying residents, Hansen could easily be one of the lawless block from Judge Dredd. Director Thomas Stuber makes good use of the former hospital in the GDR where this is partially filmed – the place falling apart, infused with decay and years of unhappiness.

Drug-taking neighbours, vicious dogs and a missing baby are all on the schedule for Juri’s (Tristan Göbel) first days in this awful building. His father Jaschek (Charly Hübner) has taken on the role of building manager and discovers that not everyone is bad, though his invitation to a family’s meal is somewhat disturbing.

Verdict: Dripping taps, dark corners, an evil presence and the search for a baby that can be heard in the walls – there’s plenty in this stylish, bleak thriller to lure you back for more. Just don’t watch it at the end of a bad day. 8/10

Nick Joy

Watch for our interview with director Thomas Stuber coming soon