Plot

In a small Icelandic fishing port, a ferry docks. That same day a dismembered body is found in the river, sparking an investigation and a call to Reykjavik for detective reinforcements to assist the small local police force.

A ferry comes to port. At the same time, a mutilated human corpse is found in the ocean. Passengers on board the ferry are prevented from going ashore, because police inspector Andri suspects the murderer is on board. He starts investigations, but meets severe resistance, both from the uncooperative ferry captain, and a really bad snow blizzard, which threatens to isolate both the ferry and the village.—Karin Gullhav

A dismembered body is found in a fjord just outside a small Icelandic town. Simultaneously, all roads in and out are closed by a severe storm. With the forensics team from the city unable to reach them, it's up to local Police Chief Andri Ólafsson and two of his officers to investigate the murder.

A motorcyclist with a passenger rides through the countryside and into town. They turn into what looks like an abandoned factory. Dagny (Rán Ísold Eysteinsdóttir) steps off and Hjortur (Baltasar Breki Samper) retrieves the door key from its hiding place. Laughing and giggling, they practically fall over each other as they rush upstairs. They light up a joint and make out on the couch. Afterwards, Hjortur goes downstairs to use the restroom. He notices smoke and then sees flames. Soon the entire building is engulfed. He tries to return upstairs, calling to Dagny, but the fire and smoke overwhelm him.

CREDITS

SEVEN YEARS LATER

In a family's home, we see a framed photo of Dagny with crucifixes and candles arranged alongside. Thorhildur the Younger (Elva María Birgisdóttir) (henceforth, Thorhildur) and Perla are having breakfast and chatting about dinosaurs. Grandfather and grandmother, Eirikur (Þorsteinn Gunnarsson) and Thorhildur the Elder (Hanna María Karlsdóttir) (henceforth, Grandmother) go about the house as usual. Andri (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) walks in carrying a basket of laundry - his machine is broken and he asks if he could use Grandmother's. She says yes, and that she'll take care of it. Andri urges the girls to finish up so he can take them to school.

Thorhildur asks Andri when their mom is coming. Andri in turn asks Grandmother when the plane is arriving. She replies that their mom is driving. Andri is surprised that Agnes is driving all the way from Reykjavik. Andri offers Eirikur a lift, but Eirikur does not respond. Instead, he sighs and Grandmother asks Eirikur if he is going to tell Andri. Eirikur says yes. They go out to the car and Grandmother sees them off. It is snowing. Andri picks up a large roll of sheet plastic from the front of the house. Eirikur notes the weather turning and recommends they get the plastic in place before the weather gets worse.

A large ferry heads into port. In the galley, Hjortur is wiping down a tray of chef's knives. Ayanike (Georg Leite de Oliveira Santos), his boss, sends him to the dining room with some chafing dishes. The PA announces to the passengers that they will be docking in 20 minutes and wishes them a pleasant stay in Iceland.

A woman and man get dressed in their private room.

Captain Soren (Bjarne Henriksen) looks out the bridge as the ship enters the harbor.

Headed out of the harbor, Guthmundur (Sigurður Karlsson) guides his fishing boat past the ferry, just avoiding its wake.

Andri pulls up to a building that has scaffolding and support beams on the outside. Eirikur tells the girls to stay in the car and he and Andri take the roll of sheeting inside. As they enter a paneled room, Eirikur looks over the place and notes that this will be nice and that Andri and the girls can move in soon. Eirikur tells Andri that Agnes is becoming serious with her boyfriend, Sigvaldi, and is bringing him to introduce to Eirikur and Grandmother, her parents. Andri grunts vaguely and leaves. At the car, the girls are tussling in the back seat. Andri struggles with the ignition and tells them to settle, and when they don't, he pounds the steering wheel. As they drive off, he tells them that their mother is bringing Sigvaldi. He asks them to promise to be polite to him. The girls frown, and are silent.

Something is snagged on the line of the fishing boat. Guthmundur and his assistant pull it in.

At the police station, Officer Asgeir (Ingvar Sigurdsson) is talking politely on the phone. Officer Hinrika (Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir) brings him a mug of coffee. The caller is complaining that Hinrika had given her another ticket for parking in front of a hydrant. Another call comes in as Asgeir plays chess on his computer. Hinrika takes the call.

Laufey (Katla M. Þorgeirsdóttir) comes up as Andri drops the girls off at school. She asks Andri when Agnes is coming in, and tells him that mom has invited them all over for a family dinner that night. He drives off.

Asgeir and Hinrika pull up to the fishing boat in their police Zodiac. They transfer the bundle over. Asgeir wretches over the side. They pull away.

The ferry docks. Andri drives up and chats with Sigurdur (Þorsteinn Bachmann) of port security, who tells him there are about 100 passengers. Andri, looking up at the weather, smirks that they better not be hoping for a hike in the sunshine. Sigurdur says the guests are good for the local economy. He asks if he heard right that Agnes is coming in. Hinrika calls Andri and asks him to meet them at the dock. Sigurdur asks what's up but Andri does not answer and drives away.

Andri pulls up at the dock and puts on his police coat. Asgeir tells him Guthmundur pulled the bundle up in the harbor and thinks it came from the ferry. They struggle to get it off the Zodiac and lay it on the dock. It's a human torso, wrapped in a tarp and tied with ropes. Andri notes it hasn't been in the sea for long -- there is minor swelling, and no signs of shrimp desecration. And then he adds, unless it was kept in a freezer. Hinrika wonders if the victim was murdered and dismembered on board. Andri calls Sigurdur and tells him not to let anyone off the ferry.

A man, Jonas (Vytautas Narbutas), heads to his camper in the car deck on the ferry. He calls someone to tell them that he will see them in 10 or 20 minutes.

Andri tells Asgeir to wrap the body and take it to the freezing plant until forensics arrives. Asgeir says Leifur won't be pleased. Andri says that's the only freezer in town large enough. Andri calls the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Reykjavik and speaks to Trausti (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson). Andri tells him the situation. Trausti says they'll be on the next flight out and that they will take care of the ferry.

In a meeting room at the town hall, Leifur (Jóhann Sigurðarson), Hrafn (Pálmi Gestsson), Fridrik (Magnús Ragnarsson) and Gudni (Kristján Franklin Magnúss) are marveling at a model of the fjord, calling it "the world's port in our little town." They worry that skeptics may ask why China is interested in investing in a port in Iceland, but Hrafn produces a map and shows the others how Iceland is right in the middle of the sailing route between China and America. Fridrik asks how much trouble they'll get from the landowners, but the others tell him, that's why he is there, as their Member of Parliament. Sigurdur rushes in and tells them a murder has been committed.

Sigurdur and Hrafn drive up to Andri and ask him if the body has been identified. Andri says that's going to be difficult. Hrafn asks if he, as the mayor, can do anything. Andri suggests he help calm the passengers. Hrafn scoffs to Sigurdur that the Danes think they are the garbage dump for bodies.

Passengers on-foot wait impatiently on the gangway bridge as Andri and Asgeir board the ship. The passengers in the car deck sit idling, honking their horns impatiently. Jonas calls someone to ask what the delay is. He turns to the back of his camper and tells two African girls to stay still. Asgeir tells Andri that Hinrika is having trouble at the freezing plant. Andri says he will talk to Leifur when they are done on the ferry. They find Captain Soren and he leads them up to the bridge. Andri asks for a passenger and crew list. Soren says the ferry can't stay for long, but Andri says it may be a while as they have to search the vessel. Andri says it's more than likely the limbs and head of victim may still be on board. Soren says they need a warrant to search - it's a Danish ferry, so they will need a Danish warrant. Disgusted, Andri leaves the bridge, followed by Asgeir who half-sarcastically tells Soren he won't be searching the ship, just interviewing the passengers.

Passing through the galley, they see Hjortur, waiting along with the passengers. There is no love lost between Andri and Hjortur. Hjortur asks how Agnes is doing. Andri doesn't answer, but assures Hjortur that he can disembark as soon as the police are done.

Back on the dock, Andri drives off without acknowledging Hrafn and Sigurdur.

At the freezing plant, Leifur complains to Andri that they can't store a corpse in his food processing plant. Andri says they have no choice. Hinrika has laid the torso out on a table in a back room. Andri sniffs at it and says they can't rule out that the victim came off the ferry. He thinks the victim was killed recently - no more than two days ago. Hinrika says Asgeir thinks the captain is hiding something. Andri notes seven knife wounds, made with a medium-sized knife, maybe from a kitchen, and that one went straight into the victim's heart. The neck was sawn through - a messy affair. Andri rolls the body on its side and notes a scar from an operation. Hinrika, looking queasy, asks if they should just wait for forensics and go handle the ferry. Andri asks her to make sure Leifur locks up the room. Outside, Hinrika reports the weather is worsening and that the mountain road is snowing in.

Driving in heavy snow, Sigvaldi (Rúnar Freyr Gíslason) asks Agnes (Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir) how far out they are. She says 30 or 40 minutes but it's tough to tell with the snow. She tells him to keep both hands on the wheel and keep his eyes on the road - they need to get through before the weather worsens. He suggests they stop and call rescue, but she says there is no cell service where they are. They start skidding but Sigvaldi, laughing uneasily, manages to regain control of the car.

The passengers, including Jonas, are increasingly agitated as the interrogations drag on.

Students have gathered in the school's hallway. Thorhildur, Perla, and another girl are bullying a boy, Maggi (Jón Pétursson), about the absence of his father, and Maggi's poor way of dress. Thorhildur says her father is the Chief of Police and can arrest Maggi's mother for the ugliness of his clothes. Aldis (Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir) wades into the crowd and breaks this up. She then announces to the students that the weather is bad and that they have called the parents to come pick them up. The children cheer.

Andri has called Reykjavik again and tells them the passengers are anxious and some believe there is a murderer on board. He tells Trausti they are concentrating on the passenger list, running it through Interpol. Trausti assures Andri they are leaving soon and will be there shortly. Andri hangs up to go pick up the girls. Trausti looks at Thor (Jóel Sæmundsson) and says they're going to have to take charge of the situation.

There are no students around when Andri arrives. Aldis says their grandmother picked the girls up and they are walking to Maggi's house along the way to drop him off. She asks if they should take any precautions as it's not every day they find a cut up body. Andri leaves and catches up with them outside Maggi's house. Thorhildur asks him if he will catch the murderer before he kills someone else. Andri tells them not to worry, and asks who's been telling them about this. Perla says it's all over Twitter.

Maggi is playing with his toy cars and asks his mother, Maria (Lilja Nótt Þórarinsdóttir), if his father has called like he promised. Maria tells him to stop talking nonsense and kisses him on the head.

They make it home. Agnes is there and greets the girls warmly. Sigvaldi comes out and shakes hands with Andri. Agnes introduces Sigvaldi to the girls. Eirikur asks if Andri will stay for dinner and Andri awkwardly begs off. Andri leaves and Agnes chases after him. She asks him to make this easier on the girls. He reminds her he's busy with the murder, and if he catches the murderer before tomorrow night, they can have a cozy dinner. She says she heard Andri did not know Sigvaldi was coming with her until earlier today. He wonders why she didn't tell him herself, and she apologizes. She notices he is still wearing his wedding band. He trudges off.

Elsewhere, road crews are cordoning off the mountain road as the weather has made the road impassable, "ofaert."

At Reykjavik Domestic Airport, the PA says all flights for Air Iceland have been canceled. Trausti, in the waiting area, sends his men home, hoping to try again tomorrow morning.

Hinrika calls Andri to tell him the investigation team has been snowed out. She also tells him the captain has turned off the heat on the ferry.

Hrafn and Sigurdur confront Andri when he arrives. They have packed 30 passengers into the school gym and there is no more room. Andri says he has to keep the passengers on board until the investigation team arrives. Hinrika tells Andri Asgeir is staying at the station to work on the passenger list.

The passengers stuck on the gangway bridge confront Andri and Hinrika as they head into the ferry. Hinrika says they are going to talk to the captain. Andri finds Soren on the bridge, who tells Andri that the passengers are not his problem. Andri demands Soren turn the heating back on and let the passengers stuck on the gangway bridge back in. Soren says his only responsibility is to bring passengers there, and to take other passengers back to Denmark. If he turned the heat back on, that would use up whatever fuel he has left. Andri angrily assures Soren that he will find out whatever Soren is trying to hide. Soren challenges Andri to do that. Andri resignedly asks Soren for 30 minutes of heating, and then they'll be done. Andri sends Hinrika to ask the mayor to try to squeeze more people into the gym; they won't have to worry about the passengers who already have their own accommodations.

Asgeir has pulled up Jonas' file on the Interpol site and calls Andri.

Andri and Hinrika walk back through the gangway bridge and assure the stranded passengers that everything will be over in 30 minutes.

Asgeir tells Andri that Jonas, a Lithuanian, had been charged with human trafficking twice but both charges were withdrawn. He was also charged with rape, but that was also dropped. He has been under the radar for five years but it is believed he is still involved with organized crime. Jonas drove onto the ferry in Denmark and Asgeir sends Andri the license plate number and a photo of Jonas. At this time, the ferry gates have been dropped and cars are streaming out. Under his breath, Andri curses the captain, who clearly can't be trusted. Andri rushes out and catches up to port security, which is checking the passports of each driver before they pass into town. Andri tells them to look for Jonas. Hrafn, watching all this, wonders what the hell is going on, and Andri just tells him to find accommodations for the remaining unhoused passengers. Andri notices Hjortur, on foot, leave the docks. Soren watches the situation from the bridge and notes to crewman Dvalinn (Hans Tórgarð) that this is chaos. Dvalinn agrees, smirks conspiratorially and tells Soren, good job.

Andri walks through the stream of cars, checking each driver off the photo Asgeir sent him. Jonas sees Andri approaching and telling his passengers to sit tight, rams his way out of the line and speeds past Andri and port security. Andri follows, telling Hinrika to stay put. Hinrika watches as Andri drives off. Hrafn sarcastically asks if Hinrika is happy, now that they've allowed a murderer into their town.

It is dark and snowing heavily. Jonas crashes the camper into a snow bank and runs. Andri checks the camper and then runs after Jonas. The two girls in the camper stumble out and head back toward town.

Agnes tucks her daughters into their bunk bed and kisses them good night. Perla whispers to Thorhildur that she can't sleep because she is afraid. She climbs down to sleep with Thorhildur. Perla doesn't close her eyes and says the murderer may come while they're sleeping. Thorhildur assures them the house is locked up and they are safe, besides, their dad had reassured them. Also, the murderer would certainly have left town by now. Perla disagrees, saying all of them are all trapped in the town, including the killer.

As the snow keeps coming down, Andri, exhausted, sweeps his flashlight beam over the snow banks. He's lost track of Jonas.

END CREDITS