In Darkness (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'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