Lester is a 27-year-old unkempt man living on the fringes of Sevier County, Tennessee. Orphaned at the age of nine when his mother left and his father died by suicide, he lives deeply alienated from his neighbors. Following the state's seizure of his family farm, he squats in an abandoned mountain cabin and takes to prowling the woods. He harbors a fierce attachment to his ancestral land and his prized rifle, relying on base survival instincts in a world that continually casts him out.

The highest law enforcement officer in Sevier County commands authority with a practiced squint and pressed, tailored clothes. He is a discerning man who uses his authority to enforce the law according to his own discretion. He actively targets the marginalized members of his community to maintain his version of social order.

An outsider from Grainger County who buys Lester's farm after the state seizes it. As an outsider in the highly insular Sevier County, he is viewed with mild suspicion by the local population. He simply intends to settle and farm the land, unwittingly placing himself directly in the path of Lester's rage.

A voluble, ursine man who manages the county dump and oversees his nine daughters. Despite viewing himself favorably, he severely abuses his children and operates with complete impunity in his isolated domain. He serves as a dark reflection of the cruelty present within the community.

One of the nine daughters of the county dump keeper. She spends her days wandering the dump in a daze to avoid her father's severe abuse. She possesses a sharp wit and confident demeanor that easily flusters the local men who visit the dump.

A law enforcement officer in Sevier County who works closely with the sheriff. He accompanies his superior on arrests and routine patrols. He is embedded in the local culture, frequently discussing bird hunting and local gossip while on duty.

A local bootlegger who operates outside the law in Sevier County. He is highly disorganized, occasionally losing his own stashes of alcohol because he hides them while intoxicated.

A local man who attends the sheriff's sale in Sevier County. When Lester attempts to threaten the auctioneer, Buster violently intervenes, dealing a severe blow to Lester's head with the blunt side of an axe.

The eldest sister in the Lane family, tasked with running the household and caring for her disabled younger brother while her father is away. She is highly responsible and fiercely rejects any inappropriate advances from local men.

The youngest sister in the Lane family. She observes the difficult dynamics in her household and expresses dark sentiments regarding her brother's intellectual disability, showing the emotional toll of their situation.

A young boy in Sevier County with an intellectual disability. He lives with his father and two older sisters, acting purely on impulse without understanding the consequences of his actions.

An acquaintance of Lester and the father of Billy and two daughters. He is frequently away from the house, leaving his daughters to manage the property and supervise his disabled son.

The owner of the general store in Sevierville. He maintains a strict eye on his customers' accounts and openly criticizes Lester's lack of money, refusing to let him add groceries to an already unpaid tab.

An elderly citizen of Sevier County who functions as a local historian. He readily recounts the dark past of the region, criticizing both the vigilante groups and the brutal methods used by past sheriffs to restore order.

A local property owner in the county who possesses a dilapidated cabin in the mountains. He largely ignores the property, unintentionally providing Lester with a place to squat after his eviction.

A toothless local resident who keeps track of the county's law enforcement movements. He makes the effort to seek out Lester in the mountains to warn him of impending legal trouble.

The owner of the hardware store in town. He falls victim to opportunists who exploit environmental disasters to rob his business, prompting him to question the county's cursed nature.