A sensitive 12-year-old boy living in the Blackeberg suburb of Stockholm with his mother. Bullied incessantly by his classmates, Oskar struggles with incontinence and low self-esteem, leading him to collect macabre newspaper clippings and secretly act out violent fantasies against trees. He longs for genuine connection and finds unexpected strength when he meets his strange new neighbor, Eli.

A deeply unusual and pale 12-year-old child who recently moved into the apartment next door to Oskar. Despite the freezing Swedish winter, Eli wears light clothing and possesses an unnatural agility. Eli relies entirely on an older companion, Håkan, for survival and harbors dark secrets, yet forms an unlikely and protective bond with the isolated Oskar.

A disgraced 45-year-old former school teacher who lives with Eli. Plagued by pedophilic urges and a dark past, Håkan serves as Eli's caretaker and procurer, undertaking horrific tasks to secure blood. He operates out of a disturbing mix of devotion, guilt, and the hope of eventual sexual reward.

A local resident who spends much of his time drinking with his close circle of friends. Secretly living off the gradual sale of his father's rare stamp collection, Lacke dreams of a better life in the countryside. He cares deeply for his friends, especially Virginia, and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth when his friend Jocke goes missing.

An older woman who works at a local supermarket and spends her free time with Lacke and his drinking buddies. She loves Lacke and maintains a complicated romantic relationship with him despite his lack of direction. She provides a sense of grounding for her friends.

A strict, religious policeman who takes pride in discipline and his skills as a prize-winning pistol shooter. He also sings in the choir. As the fiancé of Yvonne, he believes it is his duty to instill a moral compass in her rebellious son, Tommy, often creating tension in the household. He firmly believes the modern youth require harsh guidance to stay on the right path.

An older, rebellious neighborhood kid who struggles with the loss of his father and acts out by stealing and sniffing glue in his basement hideout. He bristles under the authority of his mother's new fiancé, Staffan, but retains a surprising capacity for kindness, particularly when he notices Oskar's injuries. Though he frequently gets into trouble, he possesses a strong sense of observation.

An older, reclusive man whose apartment reeks of cat urine due to his hoarding of genetically deformed felines. He serves as an eccentric fixture in the neighborhood whose late-night observations make him an unexpected witness to local horrors. He frequently shares his alcohol and provides a strange but constant presence for the regulars of the Chinese restaurant.

A cruel school bully who relentless targets Oskar with physical and emotional abuse. Operating as the ringleader of a small group of tormentors, Jonny idolizes his older brother Jimmy and relies on intimidation to assert dominance over his weaker classmates. He uses physical violence to mask his own deep-seated insecurities regarding his broken family.

One of Jonny's loyal followers at school. He participates in the systemic bullying of Oskar, echoing Jonny's cruelty while relying on the group's numbers for courage.

A former childhood friend of Oskar who abandoned their friendship to join Jonny's popular crowd. He now actively participates in bullying Oskar, reflecting the cruel social dynamics of middle school.

A strict, no-nonsense gym teacher and former war pilot from Spain. He commands respect from his students and unexpectedly becomes a source of encouragement for Oskar, pushing him to develop physical strength and self-confidence.

Jonny's older brother, a dangerous young man involved in shady dealings around Blackeberg. He holds onto a photo album representing the only link to their absent father and serves as a violent enforcer for his younger brother's petty schoolyard grievances.

A local drunk who frequents the Chinese restaurant with Lacke and the others. His sudden, unexplained disappearance after taking a different path home one evening sets off a wave of concern among his tight-knit group of friends.

Oskar's single mother, who tries her best to protect him from the dangers of the world following her divorce. She is protective but largely unaware of the intense bullying Oskar faces at school or the dark thoughts he harbors.

Oskar's father, who lives in Södervik following his divorce from Oskar's mother. Oskar idolizes him as the embodiment of masculinity, though their relationship is deeply complicated by his struggles with alcoholism, during which he transforms into an unreliable figure Oskar secretly nicknames "the Werewolf."

Tommy's widowed mother, who is struggling to move on from her husband's death from cancer. She is engaged to Staffan and constantly tries to mediate the growing tension between her strict fiancé and her rebellious son.

A member of Lacke's close-knit circle of drinking buddies. He frequently bickers with Karlsson but shares the group's collective anxiety over Jocke's mysterious disappearance.

Another regular at the local Chinese restaurant who spends his free time drinking with Lacke, Morgan, and Jocke. He serves as a supportive, if passive, member of the friend group.

The Vällingby police commissioner who attempts to educate the local youth. He becomes deeply involved in the investigation of the gruesome local murders that begin plaguing the community.

A classmate of Oskar's who occasionally hangs out with him. He tries to survive the treacherous social dynamics of their school, sometimes acting as an intermediary between Oskar and his bullies.