The Girl Who Played with Fire

Upon returning to Swedish soil after a prolonged absence, Lisbeth Salander reconnects with her former lover Miriam Wu, extending an olive branch in the form of her old apartment's keys. As she reacquaints herself with familiar surroundings, Salander's digital footprint begins to stir, targeting the email account of Nils Bjurman, her former guardian and victim of sexual abuse. With her hacking prowess, she uncovers a scheduled appointment at a tattoo removal specialist, prompting a tense confrontation at gunpoint. Salander warns Bjurman that attempting to erase the tattoo etched onto his abdomen, a symbol of his heinous crimes, would be a grave mistake.

Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium magazine, takes on a new journalist, Dag Svensson, who is working on a groundbreaking exposé about prostitution and human trafficking in Sweden. Dag's girlfriend, Mia Bergman, is penning her doctoral thesis on the same subject. As their holiday approaches, they ask Blomkvist to collect some photographs from their apartment and inquire about an enigmatic figure known as "Zala," whose connection to Dag's article may prove crucial.

Tragedy strikes when Blomkvist discovers the lifeless bodies of Dag and Mia at their apartment. The investigation that follows reveals a handgun linked to Nils Bjurman, who has also met his demise. With Salander's fingerprints found on the gun, she becomes the prime suspect. Initially resistant to Blomkvist's help, Salander eventually opens up about her innocence and the need to find "Zala," the elusive figure at the center of the case.

Salander's trusted boxing trainer and friend, Paolo Roberto, reaches out to Blomkvist, offering a potential lead on Salander's whereabouts. He directs Blomkvist to Miriam Wu, only to witness her brutal kidnapping by Ronald Niedermann, a seasoned criminal with ties to a human trafficking ring. Paolo follows Niedermann to a desolate barn, where he listens in horror as the thug tortures Miriam for information about Salander. Despite being severely beaten and setting the barn ablaze, Paolo manages to escape along with Miriam.

As news of the attack spreads, Paolo provides his account to the authorities. Blomkvist, meanwhile, leaves a digital breadcrumb trail on his computer, hoping that Salander will hack into it and read his message. Her response is a poignant "Thank you for being my friend," which Blomkvist interprets as her intention to embark on a solo quest to clear her name and exact justice upon the individual who framed her. The prospect of her survival hangs precariously in the balance.

As a masked Salander pays a hospital visit to Miriam, she brings a heavy dose of apology for dragging her friend into the chaos. The pair confirms the police sketch of Niedermann, and with a swift departure, Salander leaves behind a tangible clue in the form of dropped keys. Miriam seizes the opportunity to call Blomkvist, handing over the keys that would ultimately unravel the tangled threads surrounding Salander's mysterious persona. Among the keys is one granting access to a post office box, allowing Blomkvist to sift through Salander's mail and pinpoint her apartment address.

Meanwhile, Salander takes up surveillance duties outside Niedermann's post office box, waiting patiently until someone retrieves their mail. Following the trail, she tracks down her target to a secluded abode near Gosseberga, where secrets await discovery. As Blomkvist delves into the contents of Salander's apartment, he stumbles upon a disturbing video depicting Bjurman's heinous act of violence against his own flesh and blood.

Concurrently, Paolo shares his findings with Blomkvist, revealing that Niedermann has been tracked to a company controlled by Karl Axel Bodin. The journalist then enlists the expertise of his Millennium colleague and lover Erika Berger, forwarding crucial documents to Bublanski while setting out to locate Salander. Her disappearance only serves as a catalyst for Blomkvist's determination.

Salander's investigation leads her to the Gosseberga residence, but an alert Niedermann has been prepared, having installed motion detectors that detect her presence. He swiftly subdues her, rendering her unconscious. Upon awakening, Salander is met with the unsettling sight of her father, Alexander "Zala" Zalachenko, a man she had not seen since her own childhood trauma. Zalachenko's cruel words, aimed at belittling her mother and the rape inflicted by Bjurman, serve only to fuel Salander's rage.

As the truth begins to unravel, Zalachenko reveals Niedermann's true identity: half-brother to Salander, a revelation that sparks her anger. He confesses that Niedermann had killed Bjurman to protect Zalachenko's secrets and prevent further exposure. The twisted family dynamics are made even more complex when they lead Salander to a shallow grave in the woods.

In a desperate bid to thwart their plans, Salander uses her hidden cellphone to broadcast their conversation online, a bluff that fails to deter Zalachenko. He shoots her repeatedly as she attempts to escape, then buries her alive. Undeterred, Salander digs her way out and exacts revenge by burying an axe in Zalachenko's leg. As the standoff between Salander and Niedermann ensues, Blomkvist arrives on the scene, coincidentally driving up the driveway just as an ambulance rushes to attend to the wounded duo, leaving Salander and Zalachenko seriously injured.