10 Netflix Shows So Good, You'll Forget to Check Your Phone

1. Ares – Dutch Delight in Darkness

Beneath Amsterdam's canals lies a sinister secret. Rosa, an ambitious med student, is lured into Ares, an elite and secretive student society. But prestige comes at a price. The society harbors an ancient, supernatural secret tied to Dutch history. Each initiation is a step deeper into uncharted territories of the mind and soul. But as Rosa ascends the ranks, she's forced to confront the darkness within and the true cost of power. With opulence above and horror below, the line between the elite and the infernal blurs.

2. The Valhalla Murders – Icelandic Chillers

In Iceland's chilly landscapes, there's a killer on the prowl. Detective Kata is on the case, but when patterns emerge linking the murders to old friends and darker days, she's thrown off balance. Partnered with Arnar, an Oslo detective with his own haunted past, they dig deep into the snowy world of betrayal and vengeance. Each discovery is a step closer to a brutal institution and the roots of cruelty. Crime isn't just committed; it's born from shadows of the past. In a land of legends, modern-day monsters emerge.

3. Tabula Rasa – Memories, Muddled and Missing

Mie, a woman with amnesia, finds herself locked in a psychiatric hospital. But why? As a last-known person to see a missing man, she's a prime suspect. But with her memory betraying her, the past is both a puzzle and a prison. Plagued by strange visions, she must reconstruct her memories, piece by haunting piece. Within the confines of her mind lies a winding path to the truth. In the dance of reality and delusion, which steps lead to clarity?

4. Perfume – Scented Shades of Sin

Modern Germany, a singer's body is discovered, scent glands excised. Investigators find ties to a boarding school group obsessed with the novel Perfume and its exploration of scent's power. Their past experimentation to capture human essence in a bottle becomes a chilling focal point. As detectives Nadja and Matthias unravel the layers, they're immersed in a world of obsession, passion, and dark desires. The fragrance of fear wafts through as past sins lead to present horrors. Can one truly bottle evil?

5. Bordertown – Finnish Frontiers of the Mind

Detective Kari Sorjonen has a gift: he sees into the minds of criminals. Seeking a quieter life, he moves his family to the border town of Lappeenranta. But crime has no borders. Juggling family dynamics and dark cases, from human trafficking to ritualistic murders, Kari dives into the abyss of the human psyche. Each investigation is not just a chase but a psychological puzzle. In the serene landscapes of Finland, storms of the mind brew.

6. 3% – Brazil's Brutal Binary

In a future Brazil, society is split starkly: the Inland's poverty and the Offshore's paradise. To ascend, citizens undergo The Process, a grueling set of tests. Only 3% succeed. We follow Michele, Fernando, Rafael, and others, each harboring secrets and dreams. As they face physical, mental, and emotional challenges, allegiances shift, and revolution simmers. Is the promised land worth the ruthless journey, and at what cost? Utopia and dystopia dance in a delicate waltz.

7. Ragnarok – Norwegian Nuances of Norse

In the Norwegian town of Edda, strange events hint at an impending apocalypse. Teenager Magne discovers he's no ordinary boy but a reincarnation of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. As he grapples with newfound powers, he realizes Edda's influential Jutul family isn't just wealthy; they're ancient giants, enemies of the gods. Old feuds resurface, teenage angst meets godly wrath, and nature cries out. In the battle of god vs. giants, modernity meets mythology.

8. Tijuana – Mexican Media's Maze

When a prominent politician is murdered in Tijuana, two journalists are on the case. The catch? One seeks the truth; the other has murkier motives. As they navigate a world of corruption, drugs, and power plays, the line between journalism and justice blurs. In a city where silence is survival, speaking out can be deadly. With each revelation, a deeper web of intrigue emerges. The press's power is both weapon and shield.

9. Quicksand – Swedish School's Secrets

A school shooting shocks a wealthy Stockholm suburb. Maja, a student, is charged, but is she a cold-blooded killer or a victim? As her trial begins, the events leading to that fateful day unravel. Love, jealousy, family strife, and societal pressures boil to a climax. Every testimony reveals layers, with truth elusive and gray. In the aftermath of tragedy, one must ask: what drives a person to their breaking point?

10. Dogs of Berlin – Germany's Gritty Games

Berlin, a city of shadows and secrets. When a Turkish-German footballer is murdered, two cops, vastly different yet similarly flawed, are on the case. Delving into Berlin's underworld, they encounter neo-Nazis, Turkish nationalists, and mafia overlords. Loyalties are tested, and personal demons resurface. In a city still haunted by its past, present battles rage. Each alley has its tales, and in Berlin, justice isn't black or white.