The story opens in 2014 with D. Ragavan as a bright twelfth-standard student who receives a gold medal in computer science at his school. After the ceremony, Ragavan gathers his courage and tells his classmate Anjana that he has feelings for her; she rejects him outright, saying she prefers boys who are rebellious and daring rather than a polite, well-behaved student like him. Humiliated and determined to win her approval, Ragavan sheds his studious demeanor. He adopts the nickname "Dragon," begins dressing and behaving provocatively, skips classes, and associates with a rowdy group at AGS Engineering College in Vellore. His friend Anbu joins him, and together they cultivate a fearsome reputation; faculty records show Dragon accumulating forty-eight arrears. Despite failing many subjects, his peers treat him with respect and he becomes a dominant presence on campus.

During a college festival, Dragon becomes involved in a physical confrontation that escalates into a brawl. The college administration responds by suspending him. Dean Mayilvahanan summons Dragon and offers him a path to redeem his record through discipline and clearing his backlogs, but Dragon refuses the dean's offer and leaves the campus, intent on pursuing the life his rebellious image promises. After dropping out of college, he deceives his parents, telling them he has secured a job in information technology. To maintain the pretense, he borrows small amounts of money from friends and relies on Keerthi, his girlfriend, for financial support and companionship. Keerthi provides him some allowance and emotional backing while Dragon drifts without steady employment.

Keerthi receives a good marriage proposal with a prospective groom named Deepak and, after evaluating Dragon's long list of arrears and lack of independence, terminates the six-year relationship. She calls Dragon a failure and accepts the marriage arrangement. Devastated, Dragon spends a night drinking; later, after a car accident that leaves him shaken, he reassesses his life and sets himself a concrete objective: he will earn a salary larger than Deepak's so that no one can call him a failure again. Dragon and Anbu then befriend a man named Gowtham, who boasts about having secured a well-paying job through a forged degree. Gowtham directs them to the agency that fabricates credentials. Dragon contacts the agency, and its managing director, M. S. Rajesh, quotes a steep fee of one million rupees for creating a fake engineering degree.

Unable to pay the fee outright, Dragon manipulates his father, Dhanapal, into selling the family land. He fabricates a story convincing enough to prompt Dhanapal to sign off on the sale, generating the funds to purchase the counterfeit certificate. With the forged diploma in hand, Dragon engineers a deceptive video interview with Vale Kumar, the CEO of a multinational corporation. Using his technical knowledge, he stages the interview to make it appear that he possesses the qualifications the company requires; Vale, impressed by the performance, hires Dragon on a salary of 1.6 million rupees per year.

Once inside the company, Dragon applies his genuine computer science foundation to the tasks before him. He completes assignments successfully, leverages his programming skills, and within three years receives several promotions. The corporation rewards his productivity and he earns a transfer to the United States. With the money he accumulates, Dragon purchases a luxury villa and an expensive car, and he presents an image of success that attracts the attention of local businessman Parasuram. Parasuram, aiming to align his family with someone prosperous, arranges for Dragon to marry his daughter, Pallavi. Dragon courts Pallavi during a formal engagement period; she responds positively and the two fall in love.

Meanwhile, the dean from Ragavan's college, Mayilvahanan, spots Dragon driving the new car and recognizes him. Mayilvahanan confronts Dragon and compels him to confess the truth about his educational record. Dragon admits that he holds a forged degree and pleads with Mayilvahanan to remain silent to protect his job and impending marriage. Mayilvahanan agrees to withhold the information on one condition: Dragon must clear all of his arrears by passing the failed subjects in one sitting within three months. If he fails to do so, Mayilvahanan warns that he will reveal the forgery. Faced with the loss of his job and marriage, Dragon accepts the dean's terms.

Dragon negotiates a three-month work-from-home arrangement at the company, telling Vale that family obligations, including the wedding, require his presence in India. He also lies to his parents and Pallavi's family, asserting that he will be in Mumbai for a professional training program rather than attending college. Dragon returns to AGS Engineering College to sit the backlog exams. The transition from corporate life back to academics proves physically and mentally taxing. Classrooms, lecture halls, and dusty library stacks feel foreign. Dragon struggles to adapt to study routines after years of office work and indulgent living.

Back on campus, a junior student who idolizes Dragon emerges: Kutty Dragon, literally "Little Dragon." Kutty Dragon imitates Ragavan's arrogance and behavior, stirring trouble and fomenting chaos among students. Dragon watches Kutty Dragon court notoriety and contemplates abandoning the attempt to clear his arrears. He considers resigning his job and walking away from the layout he has built. The pressure tightens when Gowtham is arrested for obtaining his job via a fake degree; the news underscores the risk Dragon faces if his own forgery comes to light. Rather than flee, Dragon steels himself and recommits to passing the backlog exams. He seeks help from Keerthi, who has become a lecturer at the college. Keerthi agrees to tutor him; their sessions involve late-night study marathons, her correcting his written answers, and Dragon staying awake until dawn attempting to re-learn material he had neglected.

During their renewed interactions, Keerthi expresses remorse for leaving him and reveals that she feels guilty about abandoning their relationship. Dragon apologizes for his past behavior and the two reconcile into a friendship based on mutual respect; Keerthi does not resume the romance but offers disciplined mentorship that helps him prepare. In the weeks leading up to the examinations, Dragon studies under Keerthi's supervision, practicing problem-solving, reworking previous year papers, and slowly regaining academic confidence.

A few days before the final exams, Pallavi travels to Mumbai unexpectedly to surprise Dragon. To avoid exposing the truth about his presence in Vellore, Dragon tells Pallavi that she arrived in Chennai to surprise him; he convinces her that circumstances required him to come to Chennai to see her. Pallavi believes this explanation and returns to Chennai after a brief visit, while Dragon continues his studies in Vellore. The deception forces Dragon into frantic travel: on the day of Pallavi's trip back, he rushes from Vellore to Chennai to spend time with her, then hastens back to his college to sit the examination. The repeated trips strain his energy reserves; exhaustion accumulates and, once seated in the exam hall, Dragon falls asleep.

When Dragon awakens mid-exam, he realizes he has wasted precious time and failed to complete his paper. In panic, he contacts M. S. Rajesh and secures illicit help: Rajesh arranges to swap Dragon's incomplete answer sheet with one that has passing marks. The swap occurs through Rajesh's network--examine hall officials or clerks complicit in the fraud provide a different sheet that lists answers Dragon did not write but that carry scores sufficient to clear the subjects. The exchange ensures that records will show Dragon passing the backlog test.

After the exams, the corporation initiates a mandatory degree verification process as part of human resources compliance. The forged documents and the retroactive passage recorded in the college's system coincide, producing a clear administrative tally: Dragon has officially cleared his arrears. Vale receives the report and, satisfied, continues to promote Dragon at the company and greenlights the marriage to Pallavi. Dragon prepares for his wedding now certain that his job and social standing are secure.

On the eve of his marriage, Dragon and Kutty Dragon visit their classmate Venkat at his home. Venkat lives in a poor neighborhood and supports a family with limited means. He had failed a subject and, as a consequence, lost a job offer from Google that had been contingent on his passing. Devastated by his failure and the collapse of the opportunity to better his family's circumstances, Venkat ended his efforts and later attempted suicide. When Dragon and Kutty Dragon reach Venkat's residence, they find the family in distress; Venkat survives but remains traumatized. During the visit, Dragon detects a detail that shocks him: he recognizes handwriting and the structure of the answer sheet found with Venkat's records. He realizes that the passing paper that the college credits to him is the same answer sheet that should have belonged to Venkat--the very one that won Venkat a passing grade. Dragon understands, with precise clarity, that Rajesh's sheet swap used Venkat's genuine answers and left Venkat with the failing sheet. As a result, Venkat lost his job opportunity at Google, and Dragon's success rests on that theft.

Overcome by guilt, Dragon aborts the wedding preparations and confronts the consequences of his actions. He tells Pallavi that he cannot go through with the marriage and explains, in unequivocal terms, that he secured his position and degrees through fraud that harmed another student. He approaches Vale, his CEO, and confesses to forging his academic credentials. He travels to see Mayilvahanan and discloses the entire sequence of deception, including how he sold the family land to purchase the fake degree and how Rajesh arranged the later answer-sheet swap. Dragon's parents learn the truth in the course of his confessions. He then proceeds to the police station and turns himself in, submitting to arrest for fraud and abetment that affected his colleagues and classmates. Dragon narrates every detail to the investigating officers.

The legal system processes his admission: Dragon receives a custodial sentence and serves six months in prison for submitting forged documents and for the broader chain of misconduct that resulted. During his incarceration, Venkat receives restitution in the form of the Google offer being reinstated, or at least Venkat secures the job opportunity that his passing grades had originally earned him once the truth becomes known and his actual performance is recognized. The records are corrected so that Venkat's name replaces Dragon's on the job offer letter.

Upon release from prison after serving his six-month sentence, Dragon returns home. His parents accept him back into the family despite the scandal and the financial loss of the sold land. Dragon takes a humbler approach to life: he finds employment as a food delivery agent, riding a scooter and delivering meals for a modest wage. He also re-enrolls in education at a different college, sitting in classrooms as a genuine student and attending lectures honestly. His routine now includes studying at night, working during the day to earn a living, and correcting the course of his life through steady, lawful effort.

Several months after his return, Dean Mayilvahanan recognizes Dragon's transformation and the effort he makes to reconstruct his life. Mayilvahanan offers the hand of his daughter, Harini, in marriage to Dragon. Initially, Dragon hesitates because of his past and the consequences he still bears. He meets Harini and, seeing her for the first time, finds himself immediately taken with her. The narrative ends with Dragon considering the marriage proposal as he begins to rebuild his life through honest work and renewed education while Harini becomes a potential partner in that new chapter. The final scene leaves Dragon living a restored, modest existence, carrying the repercussions of his earlier choices and attempting to move forward through practical actions: working as a delivery agent, studying in college, and preparing for a future that he now approaches without deception.

The ending of The Ruse (2025) reveals the true nature of the mysterious events surrounding the elderly patient Olivia and the disappearance of the previous caregiver. The police detective arrives to explain the complex series of killings and deceptions, clarifying who was responsible. Dale, the new caregiver, survives the ordeal, but the film closes on an ambiguous note about the malevolent forces or human motives behind the chaos.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

The final act begins with Dale, the young in-home nurse, increasingly overwhelmed by the strange and threatening atmosphere in Olivia's remote seaside home. Olivia, the elderly former orchestra conductor, exhibits erratic and sometimes violent behavior, claiming her late husband Albert's spirit is present. Dale's suspicions grow as she tries to piece together the fate of the previous nurse, who vanished mysteriously.

As tension escalates, a police detective arrives unexpectedly. This character has been barely introduced earlier in the film, making his sudden presence feel abrupt. The detective methodically recounts the sequence of events leading to the killings and disappearances in the house. He explains the motives and identities of those involved, revealing that the supernatural occurrences were intertwined with human malice and deception.

Throughout this explanation, Dale listens, absorbing the grim truths. The detective's detailed account serves as the film's resolution, tying up loose ends about who killed whom and why. However, this exposition-heavy scene contrasts with the film's earlier slow-building suspense and character-driven moments.

In the closing moments, Dale's fate is that of a survivor who has endured the psychological and physical dangers of the house. Olivia's fate is left somewhat ambiguous but implies a tragic end linked to her deteriorating mental state and the dark secrets of the home. The neighbor Tom's true intentions remain unclear, maintaining an unsettling ambiguity.

The film ends with a lingering sense of unease, as the detective's explanation, while clarifying the plot, does not fully dispel the eerie atmosphere that permeated the story. The audience is left to ponder the blend of human cruelty and possible supernatural influence that defined the conflict.

In summary, the ending centers on the detective's revelation of the truth behind the killings, Dale's survival, and the ambiguous fates of Olivia and other key characters, concluding the story with a mix of resolution and lingering mystery.

The movie titled The Ruse produced in 2025 does not have any publicly confirmed information about a post-credits scene. Available search results do not mention a post-credits scene for The Ruse specifically, and the closest related information is about other 2025 films, none of which are The Ruse.

IMDb lists The Ruse as a 2024 supernatural horror thriller directed by Stevan Mena, but no details about post-credits content are provided there either. Given the absence of any mention in credible sources or fan discussions, it is reasonable to conclude that The Ruse does not include a post-credits scene.

If you are looking for a detailed description of a post-credits scene, none exists for this film as of now.

Dale experiences strange phenomena such as odd noises, doors opening and closing by themselves, and other unexplained bumps in the night after arriving at Olivia's remote seaside home.

Olivia suffers from severe memory loss and fluctuates between moments of lucidity and incoherence, making her sometimes sweet and other times bitter. This condition makes Dale's caregiving duties especially challenging as Olivia's grip on reality falters.

The previous caregiver, Tracy, mysteriously disappeared without notice. Potential suspects or suspicious characters include neighbor Tom, who is Penny's father and overly insistent with offers of help, and Jacob, the grocery delivery guy with a somewhat pervy demeanor. Detective Burke is investigating the case.

Olivia frequently references her late husband Albert, who died years ago, suggesting he still makes regular visits either in person or as a ghostly presence. This adds to the eerie atmosphere and ambiguity about whether supernatural elements are involved or if it's a manifestation of Olivia's dementia.

Dale is under pressure because she had a patient die on her watch previously, which has left a black mark on her professional record. She is eager for this new job but struggles with the stress of taking over under difficult circumstances and dealing with Olivia's borderline abusive behavior, which causes her to start cracking under the strain.

The movie The Ruse (2025) is not family friendly; it is rated R and contains themes and scenes that may be upsetting or inappropriate for children and sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Horror and suspense elements with unsettling and creepy atmospheres, including jump scares and a haunted house vibe that may be frightening for children.
• Themes of dementia and mental decline, which are portrayed with emotional intensity and may be distressing.
• Psychological tension and mystery involving a live-in nurse caring for an elderly patient with dementia, including moments of fear and uncertainty about safety.
• Some disturbing interpersonal dynamics and a dark, suspenseful tone throughout the film.
• The film's narrative includes confusing and unsettling twists that contribute to a tense and eerie mood rather than light or family-friendly content.

No explicit plot spoilers are revealed here, but the overall tone and content are geared toward adult audiences comfortable with psychological thrillers and mild horror. Children and sensitive viewers may find the film's atmosphere and themes disturbing.