The Darker the Lake

Hey, focus.

Look, you're gonna have to start telling me the truth here from the beginning,

or you're gonna be in some big trouble.

Have you heard of the game, Detective?

I've heard of many games.

You're gonna have to be more specific.

You'd remember this one.

Painkiller.

All right, let's start from the beginning.

Please state your name and age again for the record.

My name is Lea Fischer.

I'm 18 years old.

All my friends are dead now.

I'm not sure,

but I might've killed them.

I'm in.

In.

I'm in.

Okay, fine, I'm in as well.

Come on, Lea.

I want you to be the time keeper.

Um, why her?

Because I said so.

In.

Tamara, is that you?

Are you back home?

What did you do?

Now many of you are wondering what's been happening this past month.

There's been gossip about the murders and suicides,

but I can assure you that our finest detectives

will do their job to bring these incidents to light.

I'll be taking questions in a few minutes.

For now, please join me in a moment of remembrance.

Hm.

Mom.

Alpha.

Alpha. Alpha.

Unwind.

Come.

Are you here?

Detective Fischer, this is your new partner, Detective Klein.

He just moved to our beautiful town, so let's make him feel welcome.

No, I play just fine all by myself, thank you.

I'm sure you two will learn to play nice together.

Ma'am... -I think what you meant to say was, "Yes, Captain."

-Yes, Captain. -Thank you.

Oh,

and happy birthday.

Do you remember the legend of the students?

Yeah, sure. It's a silly urban legend.

What about it?

I've been working an underground case.

And I came across something on a dark web auction as an item of interest.

It's a tape, old school VHS, and it was shot here.

Is this some sick stuff I'm not gonna wanna see?

No, but I think it has to do with what's happening in the town.

You have this tape?

Okay.

You can leave

once you've answered all the questions.

I answered what you asked.

We were in the warehouse when the lights went out,

then everything was on fire.

And how did you get out?

I don't remember.

I was there. We were.

And there was this... this thing.

And this noise and...

What noise?

Like a fan. A humming.

Like when you put a seashell to your ear.

You're the only one who got out.

I know.

Hey, focus.

Have you heard of the game, Detective?

I've heard of many games.

You'd remember this one.

Painkiller.

It's impossible to forget.

Gets in your head, in every which way.

Let's start from the beginning.

Please state your name and age for the record.

My name is Lea Fischer.

I'm 18 years old.

All my friends are dead now.

I'm not sure,

but I might have killed them.

Who else have you shown this to?

No one.

That's why I brought it to you first.

Have you ever seen it before?

No, of course not.

All the evidence supposedly disappeared.

The fire was chemical, so there were no recognizable bodies

at the scene and whatever else they gathered

disappeared a few weeks later.

They had one eye witness, and I don't know about you,

but I don't think she looks exactly stable.

Well, we have to talk to her.

No. She was 18 back then.

Her friends had just died in the accident.

She's obviously still in shock, and they're clearly

leading her down some line of questioning.

She was acquitted.

Yes, because my mom didn't do anything.

She spent eight months in a mental institution.

She doesn't like to talk about it.

-But they might be connected. -What's connected?

The new murders and this urban legend, this game.

But that's all it is. It's a game.

It's a silly urban legend.

Your mom seemed pretty sure that it was real.

She even named it.

Yeah, "Painkiller", whatever they call it.

This month is cursed.

Five murders, and they closed the pizzeria in town.

A little respect for the dead.

Sorry, Detective.

It's just there's never been anything like this before.

So what happened this time?

Shot to the back, straight on through.

Did they find the gun?

They're combing the perimeter.

Detective, over here!

Alpha, alpha...

Adalbert, it's Detective Fischer.

I need you to stop that.

Otwin?

What about him?

He's hurt.

It hurts him...

I think, but I...

I hurt him, I think.

Let her go.

Saw Lea,

tell her she's in danger.

Ah!

Hey!

We need you in the hut, now.

Otwin and Adalbert have been neighbors

and best friends since I was little.

I mean, I just... I just find it a very strange coincidence

that we watched the tape,

and then this Adalbert tells you to tell your mom something.

Look, I know it's weird.

There hasn't been a murder in years

and then suddenly a bunch.

In these cases, the people, they've all been confused

and disoriented in a somewhat similar way.

There must be an explanation.

We just... we just have to find it.

I... I don't want my mom dragged into this.

There it is. That's why you can't be objective.

I can be objective. Okay?

I just don't have to write it all out in exquisite detail.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom!

Tammy?

I'm here.

Oh, I... I must have fallen asleep.

I think I had tea.

Yeah, you're... you're in the kitchen.

I know. I was just talking.

It was very vivid. I was...

Who else is here?

It's Lukas, ma'am. Tamara's new partner.

Just call me Lea.

Please sit down. You're making me nervous.

There's been another one. Adalbert wanted...

Adalbert is a kind man.