From Gamer to Cleanup Crew: How Dark Comic Video Games and TV Shows Inspired My Journey into Crime Scene Cleanup

lAtelly is diving into the job simulation game, Crime Scene Cleaner, while simultaneously enjoying the BBC comedy series The Cleaner. Both narratives delve into the aftermath of a shocking murder. In the show, Greg Davis portrays Wicky, an employee at a government-backed cleanup company, while Kobarski, the protagonist in the game, cleans up blood and removes debris to conceal a mob boss named Big Gym.

Both scenarios are layered with unexpected humor. Or are they? I’ve never encountered a real-life murder scene, so maybe the copious blood and scattered remnants of furniture on the walls are just part of the norm.

Stepping into Kovalsky’s plastic overshoes means maintaining the scene as it was before—ugh, the incident. Unlike Wicky, who frequently faces irritable homeowners and neighbors, Kobarski operates in solitude, carrying only the dead before discreetly discarding them into a pickup truck. Each scene unfolds in silence, interrupted only by sporadic exchanges with Big Gym and Kobarski’s quiet self-reflection. Both characters are weary figures, navigating their grim jobs amidst rivers of blood, yet there lies a crucial distinction: Kobarski stealthily scavenges cash and valuables to boost his bank account (he’s saving for his daughter’s medical expenses).

Crime Scene Cleaner presents a bizarre concept, reminiscent of an odd mashup between PowerWash Simulator and Hitman. Yet, despite its eerie premise, Kobarski disposes of glass shards, pizza remnants, and splintered plates, all while scrubbing the blood away with a microfiber mop and repositioning the sofa and table. The game, with its unsettling yet meticulously crafted scenarios, offers a surprisingly satisfying experience.

Both tales also explore increasingly bizarre locations. Crime Scene Cleaners tackle settings like pizzerias, museums, and eerie smart homes, while The Cleaner features ice cream shops, theaters, and grand residences. I appreciate how the game allows us to embody a more subdued version of Wicky without the distractions posed by law enforcement or the ingenious novelist, as well as the murderer (masterfully brought to life by Helena Bonham Carter in the series). With his daughter confined in a clinic, Kobarski’s sole (living) companion is his spirited German shepherd—named Dexter, of course.

After each cleanup, I found myself admiring the restored scene, feeling a sense of accomplishment in the task completed. Both crime scene cleaners and cleaners embrace a distinct form of black comedy that renders horror both engaging and desensitized. In these narratives, the crimes have already transpired, the worst is behind, leaving only the remnants to address.