‘From Darkness’ Set to Haunt Grimmfest with Chilling Nordic Terror

The acclaimed Swedish horror-thriller From Darkness is all set to chill audiences in the UK with its Northern premiere at Grimmfest on 5th October. This gripping feature, produced by Pentagram Film and Eyra Media, has already caused quite a stir in Sweden, becoming a box-office standout and one of the country’s top picks for streaming rentals. Now, the film makes its way to Manchester’s Grimmfest, promising festival-goers an eerie dive into Nordic terror.

From Darkness follows Angelica, a park ranger, as she teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Viktor, to search for a missing woman lost within the dangerous confines of a Swedish nature reserve. Angelica and Viktor’s partnership is complicated not just by their personal history but also by the chilling folklore attached to the reserve: tales of a Cave Wraith—a malevolent spirit believed to haunt the area’s caves, once luring miners to their doom. As they venture deeper into the forest, it’s not just the physical danger they have to face; there’s something lurking in the darkness that seems determined to blur the lines between reality and legend.

Viktor, played by Oscar Skagerberg, is a dog handler who reluctantly joins Angelica on this perilous mission. The two share a haunting connection to the forest—a tragedy from two years ago when they were unable to rescue a missing child from the same reserve during a storm. This unresolved trauma makes their new search even more daunting, forcing both Angelica and Viktor to face their fears as they delve into the unknown.

Skagerberg recently spoke about portraying Viktor’s struggle with his grip on reality, saying, “The worst thing you can take from a person is their ability to trust their own senses. It’s hell on earth, especially when your survival depends on it. It has been an incredibly exciting challenge to portray such a psychological state in a believable way.” His words encapsulate the atmosphere of From Darkness, where the terror doesn’t come solely from a lurking monster but from the creeping doubt within one’s own mind.

As Viktor and Angelica push on with their search, they face increasingly strange occurrences—the feeling of being watched, unnatural sounds echoing in the dark, and chilling signs pointing to the eerie myth of the Cave Wraith being much more than a mere ghost story. Viktor’s internal battle with his sense of reality and Angelica’s determination to keep moving forward drives the story, capturing the audience’s fear of the unknown and the unrelenting power of past traumas.

With its atmospheric visuals, tight pacing, and exploration of deep-rooted fears, From Darkness has struck a chord with viewers so far, spending several weeks as one of the top films on streaming platforms in Sweden. The film’s success is attributed to its effective use of Nordic folklore, its unsettling forest setting, and strong character-driven tension. Now, British horror enthusiasts have the chance to experience the acclaimed chiller for themselves during Grimmfest’s iconic showcase of international genre films.

Grimmfest, held annually in Manchester, is known for celebrating innovative and boundary-pushing horror from across the globe, making it the perfect platform for From Darkness.

From Darkness trailer