Sam is a smart, sarcastic archaeoentomologist who studies insects at archaeological dig sites. She is home on furlough, prompted by concerns about her mother's recent anxiety and weight loss. Grounded heavily in science and rational thought, she struggles to reconcile her logical worldview with the impossible lack of insects and unsettling occurrences at her grandmother's house.

Edith is Sam and Brad's mother, who lives alone in the suburban North Carolina home she inherited. Previously known as a vibrant and colorful woman, she currently appears alarmingly thin, anxious, and fearful. She has recently removed her quirky decor, reverting the house to the beige, strictly traditional aesthetics preferred by her late mother.

Gran Mae is Edith's deceased mother and Sam's grandmother, whose oppressive presence lingers heavily over the family home. In life, she was a hospice nurse who maintained a meticulous rose garden and demanded her family adhere to a strict, 1950s-sitcom vision of Southern propriety. Her racist, classist, and controlling worldview deeply traumatized her daughter and grandchildren.

Gail is a wealthy, older neighbor whom Sam compares to an aging hippie due to her flowing skirts and large jewelry. She works as an animal rehabilitator and proudly houses a colony of vultures on her property. Grounded in a natural, harmonious approach to the world, she openly identifies as a witch and offers cryptic but genuine guidance to Sam.

Phil is Edith's handyman and a trained master gardener who helps maintain the property. He is a friendly, calm, and handsome presence who provides a sense of normalcy amidst the escalating strange events. He lives across the street with his grandfather and easily converses with Sam about her entomology work.

Brad is Sam's older brother, who currently lives in Arizona with his wife. Though geographically distant, he remains highly protective of his sister and deeply concerned about Edith's recent withdrawal. He carries lingering guilt over not protecting Sam from their grandmother's subtle cruelties when they were children.

Elgar is Gran Mae's late father, an eccentric historical figure rumored to be an infamous sorcerer known as the "Mad Wizard of Boone." Having died when Gran Mae was a teenager, his legacy casts a long shadow over the family. His strange life and rumored occult experiments directly conflict with Gran Mae's desperate desire for a conventional, respectable existence.

Mr. Pressley is Phil's grandfather and a highly observant, conspiracy-minded neighbor. He keeps a constant, suspicious eye on the street and is particularly distrustful of anyone related to Gran Mae Mills, though he allows his grandson to work for Edith.

Hermes is a one-winged black vulture who lives permanently inside Gail's house. As a rescued wild animal, he serves as a constant companion to Gail and a stark contrast to Gran Mae's rigid ideals of what belongs in a proper suburban home.