In the haunting psychodrama “What Remains,” viewers follow the life of Mads Lake (portrayed by Gustav Skarsgård), an individual looking for a fresh start after spending years in a mental institution. His attempts to find stable housing are futile, he faces theft, and he reengages with his estranged older brother. Just when viewers might begin to feel some compassion towards Lake, the character's dark past is unearthed by his therapist Anna Rudebeck (Andrea Riseborough); he’s abused nine boys. The narrative challenges audiences to empathize with a pedophile.
Post this revelation, the film morphs into a psychological narrative that teases viewers with the prospect of feeling sympathy for a sex offender. Lake himself is a victim of sexual abuse dating back to his early childhood. When he learns of an unresolved case involving a missing minor, he can't help but question if he is responsible for more than just sexually assaulting children.
The narrative is populated by characters grappling with their personal demons, like Rudebeck with her dysfunctional relationship with her father and her desperate attempts to conceive a child. Joining them is Soren Rank (portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård), a formerly alcoholic police officer working to rebuild his broken relationship with his ex-wife and daughter while being assigned to solve the missing child case.
Three main characters reluctantly form a team to solve this crime, with Lake's recollections of potential murders surfacing that may or may not be factual. Throughout the narrative, the trio unearths more trauma than resolution. Viewers are compelled to connect the dots as the narrative gradually climaxes to an incident that incites violence, confusion, and profound grief.
The film embarks on narrating a murder mystery that thrives on negativity, presenting viewers with a gloomy, dismal, and depressive atmosphere. Under such circumstances, viewers may unexpectedly find themselves sympathizing with Lake, a man who ultimately seeks solitude, reflecting his own internal torment.
