Synopsis

Can the mystery of an old legend be solved? 

 Gabriel (14) gets the chance to find out when he's sent off to spend the last days of his Christmas vacation at his grandfather's farm while his divorced mother goes abroad for a few days.

An old family secret, the death of Samuel's daughter comes to light. Was the little girl killed by the ghost of Bjorn the Axe, who according to legend returns every New Year's Eve? Gabriel believes he has found the clue – in an old book. Samuel's stories of old legends and tales of elves, ghosts and spirits are like oil on Gabriel's already blazing imagination. Two days before New Year's Eve Samuel disappears during a severe storm. Gabriel is left alone on the farm to fend for himself, drawn into a spiral of increasingly strange and terrifying events. The farm is miles away from the next village, the winter storm rages outside and Gabriel has no means of escape.

The storm has died down when Andrea, Gabriel's best friend from town arrives on the bus. But Gabriel doesn't let her in on the situation until the bus has left. He is determined to solve the riddle of his grandfather's disappearance. Are they being hunted by real or imaginary ghosts and spirits? It's not the ideal situation for young kids - almost adults, to discover love or solve mysteries. But miracles still happen.

Based on an award-winning novel. What the Darkness Hides is a teenage film aimed at audiences in the age group 13-25 years of age. It is packed with fast-paced and thrilling action and a musical score by cutting edge Icelandic bands such as SIGUR ROS, THE FUNERALS, LEAVES, QUARASHI and MUM.