The Ritual 2 (2024) picks up a few years after the events of the first film, where four friends encountered a malevolent creature in the Swedish wilderness. The sequel follows Luke, the lone survivor, who is still haunted by the horrors of the forest. He struggles with PTSD and nightmarish visions of the Jötunn—a creature that he narrowly escaped. Desperate for closure, Luke decides to return to the forest, convinced that the only way to rid himself of the terror is to confront it once again.
Accompanied by a new group of friends—Sarah, a trauma counselor; David, a skeptical paranormal investigator; and Jack, an old acquaintance from his hometown—Luke ventures back into the unforgiving wilderness. Each of them has their own reasons for joining the expedition: Sarah seeks to help Luke heal, David is hoping to debunk the legend, and Jack is lured by the prospect of discovering something supernatural.
Upon returning to the forest, the group quickly realizes that the strange, oppressive atmosphere has intensified. Dark rituals are performed by the remnants of the cult that worships the ancient god-like creature. Strange symbols are etched into trees, and unsettling noises echo through the dense woods.
Luke becomes increasingly erratic, experiencing vivid flashbacks and feeling an inexplicable connection to the Jötunn. The creature itself seems to be toying with the group, stalking them from the shadows and picking them off one by one, using their deepest fears against them.
As their numbers dwindle, Luke comes to a terrifying realization: the Jötunn has marked him as its chosen successor, and his return to the forest has only strengthened its power. In a chilling twist, Luke must either accept his fate or sacrifice his remaining friends to break the curse. The film ends ambiguously, with Luke standing alone in the forest, eyes glowing, leaving the audience to question whether he has become the new vessel for the ancient creature.
