Luke is a 34-year-old bachelor who works at a CD shop in London. He has limited finances and struggles with anger management, frequently lashing out physically at others. He harbors deep envy toward his friends' seemingly successful careers and marriages, though he projects a facade of enjoying his personal freedom.

Hutch is the eldest and most physically fit member of the friend group. He has twenty years of experience in outdoor pursuits and acts as the defacto leader of the expedition. He maintains a calm exterior and attempts to keep the peace among his increasingly irritable friends.

Dom is a 34-year-old marketing director who recently lost his job and separated from his wife. He is out of shape for the rigorous Scandinavian hike and frequently relies on alcohol to cope with his stress. He targets Luke with sarcastic remarks, blaming Luke's financial limitations for their current camping situation.

Phil is a formerly wealthy property developer whose business collapse led to bankruptcy and the end of his marriage. He has asthma and struggles physically with the demands of the hike. He is the quietest member of the group, withdrawing into himself as the forest environment grows more intimidating.

Loki is an intelligent Norwegian teenager and a member of the black metal band Blood Frenzy. He wears band t-shirts and covers his skin in a contradictory mix of Satanic and pagan tattoos. He harbors a deep fascination with Viking lore and actively seeks to practice ancient blood rituals in the wilderness.

Fenris is an aggressive Norwegian teenager in the black metal band Blood Frenzy. He carries a knife and relies on physical intimidation to assert dominance. He attempts to project a terrifying persona to mask his immaturity, frequently engaging in loud, drunken behavior.

A massive, terrifying entity that rules the untouched Scandinavian virgin forest. Blurring the line between animal and human, it stalks intruders in its territory and commands the reverence of those who dwell in the deep woods. It communicates through deep, bovine coughs and jackal-like barks.

An unnamed, elderly woman who lives deep within the Swedish virgin forest. She wears a long black gown that drags against the wooden floorboards and communicates primarily in Norwegian. She tends to the bizarre, ancient artifacts in her home and appears deeply connected to the old pagan traditions of the forest.

Surtr is a teenager in heavy makeup who follows the black metal band Blood Frenzy. She aligns herself entirely with Loki's destructive ideology and frequently behaves erratically. She displays an aggressive eagerness to participate in the band's violent rituals.

Angie is Hutch's wife who lives with him in the English countryside. She represents the stable, civilized domestic life that the hikers leave behind when they enter the virgin forest.

Gayle is Dom's estranged wife and the mother of his three children. Their recent separation contributes heavily to Dom's emotional distress and reliance on alcohol during the trip.

Michelle is Phil's estranged wife. She kicked Phil out of their home after his property business failed and he declared bankruptcy, leaving him emotionally hollowed out before the hike.

Charlotte is a woman Luke casually dates in London. Her presence in his life highlights his inability to form the kinds of long-lasting, committed relationships his friends previously achieved.