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In Darkness (2018) movie poster

Plot Summary

In Darkness (2018) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 100 min · English
Echo score 69
Directed by
Anthony Byrne
Starring
Daniel Eghan, Ed Skrein, Bern Collaco, Amber Anderson, Jan Bijvoet, Emily Ratajkowski

When a shocking murder disrupts her secluded life, blind pianist Sofia finds herself entangled in a dangerous criminal network. Drawn into the investigation, she becomes increasingly connected to Veronique's father, a man suspected of war crimes and involved in corruption and organized crime. As Sofia seeks the truth, she uncovers unsettling secrets about her own history and embarks on a quest for retribution that threatens everything she holds dear.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like In Darkness
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch In Darkness (2018)

Where can you watch In Darkness? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in In Darkness: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of In Darkness (2018) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Sofia McKendrick, Natalie Dormer, is a blind pianist living in a small London apartment, and her days are shaped by a trauma she hasn’t fully processed—the massacre of her family at the hands of Serbian paramilitaries. She moves through her world with quiet precision, relying on memory, sound, and routine to navigate a city that feels both intimate and perilous.

Her next‑door neighbor, Veronique, Emily Ratajkowski, is the daughter of the Serbian philanthropist Zoran Radic, a man suspected of running criminal networks. Despite the danger that surrounds Veronique’s lineage, the two women maintain a seemingly cordial if uneasy friendship. In a brief elevator exchange, Veronique slips Sofia a USB drive and murmurs something about a perfume that she calls “Liquid Gold.”

> Liquid Gold

Soon after, Sofia witnesses Veronique fall to her death during a struggle in Veronique’s room. She does not tell the police detective Oscar Mills what she saw, and she hides the USB drive as the investigation begins to circle around Radic and his associates.

At a public event hosted by Zoran Radic, Sofia overhears a tense exchange between Radic, his head of security Alexandra Gordon Kim Adis and her brother Marc Ed Skrein. They acknowledge Veronique’s pregnancy and reveal that Marc was sent to kill her; the tension hints at a deeper network of motives and loyalties behind Veronique’s death. Radic’s world feels increasingly close to Sofia, and she finds herself dodging both investigators and the eyes of Radic’s men as they probe Veronique’s apartment.

Marc rescues Sofia from an attempted assault and kidnapping, and the two form a complicated bond that blossoms into an affair. Through Marc, Sofia learns that Veronique’s death may have been driven by a mix of paranoia and fear rather than a clear‑cut suicide. As their relationship deepens, Sofia discovers a path toward striking back at Radic—but she does so in collaboration with her adopted father, Niall, a former soldier who once rescued her as a child. She entrusts Niall with the USB drive and uses the password “Liquid Gold” to unlock a trove of Radic’s assets and operations, a discovery that reframes Sofia’s own past and what she might become.

Sofia’s memories begin to intertwine with Balma Lexi Benbow-Hart, her sister who could see yet pretended to be blind for Sofia’s sake. Long‑hidden family histories surface: the two sisters grew up among Radic’s circles in Bosnia, where Radic betrayed them and unleashed the paramilitary massacre that shaped Sofia’s life. Veronique had planned to expose her father’s crimes and had given Sofia the drive to do so.

As the USB contents draw Alexandra into a dangerous calculus—seeking to seize Radic’s operations for herself—Sofia trades a copy of the drive to Alexandra in exchange for a photo that identifies Alexandra and for a private audience with Radic at Veronique’s funeral. The exchange is tense, and Alexandra delivers a copy of the photo to Radic at the ceremony, setting in motion a confrontation that may topple them both. Sofia confronts Radic, who confronts her with a confession: he had loved Sofia’s mother and, in a brutal act, raped her, believing Sofia might be his daughter. The revelation devastates Sofia, leaving her to face a complicated matrix of guilt, revenge, and a blood bond she cannot ignore.

Detective Mills investigates Sofia’s past more deeply and uncovers that the name “Sofia” is an alias—an identity forged from Niall’s own history and the memory of his biological daughter who died in infancy. The truth ripples outward, and Niall himself soon dies in a hospital bed, his death tightening the noose around Radic and his operatives.

Radic learns of Alexandra’s treachery and orders her death; Marc, torn between loyalty and guilt, abandons Alexandra for her role in a child’s death. Radic arrives at Sofia’s apartment intent on killing her, but Marc rushes in to defend her. Mills, watching from a distance, realizes Sofia had carefully studied Marc’s wanted poster and races toward the apartment to intervene. In the ensuing struggle, Marc decimates Radic’s guards, but Radic overpowers Sofia and closes in for a fatal strike. As Sofia fights to stab Radic, Marc arrives at the last moment, shoving Radic out of the window and leaving him impaled on a spiked fence below.

In the final, shocking twist, it’s revealed that Sofia was never blind after all—Balma was the one who lived Sofia’s life, while the real Sofia was killed during the Bosnian massacre. Balma had assumed Sofia’s identity for years, feigning blindness to protect the truth she carried. With Radic’s death and the truth uncovered, Marc urges Balma to run, taking the fall for Radic’s death himself, and Balma flees the scene as police arrive, leaving Sofia’s past and present forever tangled in the consequences of a single, devastating act of violence.

Last updated: January 08, 2026 at 12:00

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Plot questions answered

In Darkness Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about In Darkness (2018): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Sofia hide the USB drive from the police?

Sofia hid the USB drive because Veronique gave it to her in secret during an elevator encounter, and Sofia didn't trust the police or want to get involved in the dangerous criminal world surrounding Veronique's father. Additionally, Sofia had witnessed part of Veronique's death and feared being implicated or targeted by Radic's network if she came forward.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Veronique specifically mentioned a clue called 'Liquid Gold' when giving Sofia the drive, hinting that its contents were valuable enough to kill for.

  • usb drive
  • veronique
  • hidden evidence
  • police
  • liquid gold
Q2

What was on the USB drive that Veronique gave Sofia?

The USB drive contained evidence of Zoran Radic's criminal operations, including his assets, networks, and war crimes. It was essentially a trove of information that could expose his entire criminal empire. Veronique had planned to use it to expose her father's crimes and entrusted it to Sofia because she believed Sofia could carry out what she couldn't.

Foreshadowing: The password 'Liquid Gold' that Sofia later used to unlock the drive was the same clue Veronique whispered in the elevator, signaling its importance.

  • usb drive
  • radic
  • evidence
  • criminal network
  • expose
  • liquid gold
Q3

Did Veronique commit suicide or was she murdered?

Veronique's death was initially believed to be suicide, but the truth is more complicated. Marc, who was sent by Radic to kill her, arrived at her apartment and found her in a paranoid, fearful state. Rather than killing her himself, he left. Veronique then either jumped or fell during a struggle, and Sofia witnessed her fall. The investigation and later revelations suggest her death was driven by paranoia and fear rather than a straightforward murder or suicide.

Foreshadowing: At Radic's event, Sofia overheard Alexandra and Marc discussing Veronique's pregnancy and revealing Marc was sent to kill her, suggesting she was already in grave danger.

  • veronique
  • death
  • suicide
  • murder
  • marc
  • radical
Q4

Why did Sofia form a relationship with Marc despite knowing he was sent to kill Veronique?

Sofia became involved with Marc after he rescued her from an attempted assault and kidnapping by Radic's men. Despite knowing he had been sent to kill Veronique, Sofia was drawn into a dangerous bond with him as their relationship deepened. Through Marc, she learned more about Veronique's death and gained access to Radic's inner circle, ultimately using their connection as part of her plan to bring down Radic.

Foreshadowing: Sofia overheard at Radic's event that Marc was involved in Veronique's death, making her subsequent alliance with him a calculated risk rather than a naive choice.

  • marc
  • sofia
  • relationship
  • veronique
  • radric
  • betrayal
Q5

What was Sofia's connection to Zoran Radic?

Sofia (actually Balma) had a deeply personal connection to Radic. The family had been friends with Radic in Bosnia, but he betrayed them by unleashing the Serbian paramilitary massacre that killed Sofia's real family. Decades later, Radic revealed an even darker connection: he had raped Sofia's mother and suggested Sofia might be his biological daughter. This revelation added a layer of incestuous horror to Sofia's quest for revenge.

Foreshadowing: Sofia recounts memories of her sister Balma and their Bosnia past, hinting at the long-hidden connection between their family and Radic.

  • radic
  • sofia
  • bosnia
  • massacre
  • mother
  • connection
Q6

Why did Sofia pretend to be blind?

Sofia was never actually blind. The real Sofia was killed during the Bosnian massacre. Her sister Balma survived and assumed Sofia's identity, feigning blindness for years to protect the truth she carried and to live safely. The blindness was an elaborate act to maintain her hidden identity.

Foreshadowing: Sofia recounts Balma, her sister who could see but pretended to be blind for Sofia's sake, which is actually a memory of herself protecting herself.

  • blindness
  • balma
  • identity
  • sister
  • deception
  • survival
Q7

What happened to the real Sofia?

The real Sofia was killed during the Serbian paramilitary massacre in Bosnia that also killed her parents and other family members. Her sister Balma survived and assumed her identity, living as 'Sofia' ever since. The entire premise of the movie revolves around this substitution, with Balma living Sofia's life while carrying the trauma and secrets of both sisters.

Foreshadowing: Sofia recounts memories of Balma, her sister who could see, with long-hidden family histories surfacing about their Bosnia past.

  • real sofia
  • balma
  • massacre
  • bosnia
  • death
  • identity
Q8

What was the twist ending about Sofia's identity?

The shocking twist is that Sofia was never the original Sofia at all. Balma, her sister who could see, survived the Bosnian massacre while the real Sofia did not. Balma assumed her sister's identity and pretended to be blind to protect herself and maintain the lie. This means the entire character viewers followed was actually Balma living under a dead person's name.

Foreshadowing: Detective Mills uncovers that 'Sofia' is an alias, and earlier memories of Balma pretending to be blind for Sofia's sake take on new meaning.

  • twist
  • identity
  • balma
  • sofia
  • reveal
  • ending
  • sister
Q9

Why did Zoran Radic want Sofia dead?

Radic wanted Sofia dead because she had obtained the USB drive containing evidence of his criminal operations and war crimes. Additionally, Sofia was threatening to expose him, and she possessed knowledge about her mother's fate and her own origins. Radic saw her as a dangerous loose end who could bring down his entire empire.

Foreshadowing: Sofia overheard Radic and his associates discussing Veronique's death, and Radic became increasingly fixated on Sofia as a link to the missing evidence.

  • radic
  • sofia
  • kill
  • usb drive
  • expose
  • danger
Q10

What happened to Marc at the end of the movie?

At the climax, Marc intervened to save Sofia from Radic and shoved Radic out the window, killing him. Rather than fleeing with Sofia, Marc chose to take the fall for Radic's death himself, urging Sofia (Balma) to run. He stayed behind to face the police, sacrificing his freedom so she could escape.

Foreshadowing: Marc had already abandoned Alexandra when he learned of her role in a child's death, showing his shift toward choosing loyalty to Sofia over his previous allegiances.

  • marc
  • ending
  • fate
  • police
  • run
  • sacrifice
  • radic
Q11

Why did Niall die in the hospital?

Niall, Sofia's adopted father and former soldier who had rescued her as a child, died in a hospital bed. His death occurred as the police were closing in on Sofia's hidden past and as Radic's network was crumbling. His death removed Sofia's strongest confidant and protector, tightening the narrative stakes as Sofia faced Radic alone.

Foreshadowing: Detective Mills had uncovered that 'Sofia' was an alias rooted in Niall's deceased daughter, connecting Niall's past to the larger mystery.

  • niall
  • death
  • hospital
  • sofia
  • adopted father
  • past
Q12

What was 'Liquid Gold' in the movie?

'Liquid Gold' was the password that unlocked the USB drive containing evidence of Zoran Radic's criminal operations. Veronique mentioned it as a clue when she gave Sofia the drive in the elevator. Sofia later used this password to access the trove of information about Radic's assets and crimes, which became crucial to her plan to expose him.

Foreshadowing: Veronique discretely whispered about 'Liquid Gold' while handing Sofia the USB drive in their tense elevator exchange, marking it as essential to the plot.

  • liquid gold
  • password
  • usb drive
  • veronique
  • radic
  • evidence

Movie threads

More Movies Like In Darkness, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes In Darkness tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Thrillers about uncovering dark pasts like In Darkness

Protagonists entangled in investigations that uncover horrifying personal and political secrets. If you enjoyed the tense investigation into war crimes and hidden identity in In Darkness, you'll find more movies here where characters are pulled into mysteries that reveal devastating personal and historical truths.

  • investigative
  • tense
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • revenge-driven
  • psychological
  • Tone: dark, tense, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically begin with a disruptive event that triggers an investigation, leading the protagonist down a rabbit hole of long-buried secrets. The narrative revolves around piecing together a traumatic history, often through flashbacks or witness accounts, culminating in a confrontation with the perpetrators and a reckoning with the past.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped by their shared focus on a suspenseful investigation that serves as a catalyst for uncovering profound personal and historical trauma, creating a consistently dark, paranoid, and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

Movies with bittersweet revenge like In Darkness

Quest for vengeance that brings costly victories and profound personal loss. Fans of In Darkness's quest for retribution that ends with a heavy cost will appreciate these films. They explore the complex emotional toll of revenge, where justice is achieved but often at the expense of personal happiness or relationships.

  • revenge-driven
  • bittersweet
  • morally ambiguous
  • gritty
  • melancholic
  • tense
  • Tone: bittersweet, gritty, heavy
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a wronged individual methodically pursuing those who harmed them. The journey is fraught with danger and moral compromises. The climax delivers a form of justice or retribution, but the resolution is bittersweet, highlighting the sacrifices made and the scars that remain.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of revenge not as a simple catharsis, but as a complex, emotionally draining process that results in a pyrrhic victory, leaving characters and viewers with a profound sense of melancholy alongside closure.

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Every angle

In Darkness (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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