The Absent One (2014 film)

The Absent One, also known as Fasandræberne in Danish, is a 2014 Danish crime thriller film directed by Mikkel Nørgaard. It is the second film in the Department Q series, based on the novels by Jussi Adler-Olsen. The film follows detectives Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and Hafez el-Assad (Fares Fares) as they investigate a cold case involving the murder of two young siblings twenty years earlier.

The story centers on the discovery of a link between the original crime and a group of wealthy and privileged young men who attended a prestigious boarding school. As Mørck and Assad delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a dark secret society and a pattern of violence and abuse that has been covered up for decades. The film explores themes of class inequality, corruption, and the abuse of power. The case becomes increasingly dangerous as the detectives encounter resistance from powerful individuals who are determined to protect their secrets.

The Absent One is a direct sequel to the first Department Q film, The Keeper of Lost Causes (2013), and precedes A Conspiracy of Faith (2016) in the series. It received generally positive reviews for its suspenseful plot, strong performances, and atmospheric direction.