Miley is a 24-year-old biathlete striving for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Haunted by guilt over a car accident that claimed her mother's life, she is fiercely independent and uses her grueling physical training to suppress her unresolved trauma and complex emotions. She values her autonomy, running alone in the vast Frank Church Wilderness and placing herself directly in the path of extreme danger.

Brent is Miley's best friend and fellow biathlon teammate. Having known Miley since they were teenagers, he harbors deep romantic feelings for her and provides unwavering loyalty, often serving as her emotional anchor. When Miley goes missing, Brent uses his athletic endurance and deep knowledge of her habits to relentlessly search the rugged wilderness.

Fred is an older, brutal survivalist with soot-colored whiskers and a ruthless demeanor. He views himself as one of the last "real men" and claims to live entirely off the grid, free from societal laws. He relies on fear, physical violence, and psychological manipulation to maintain strict control over his isolated cabin and the women he abducts.

Hamish is Fred's towering, unkempt son, raised in total isolation from modern society. Indoctrinated by his father's survivalist ideology, he completely lacks social norms or empathy, viewing kidnapped women as property. He considers Miley his designated "prize" and intends to forcibly marry her, exhibiting a terrifying blend of blind obedience to his father and burgeoning cruelty.

Mary is a meek, one-eyed woman held captive in Fred and Hamish's cabin. Once an ambitious Yale-bound cross-country runner named Rayna, she has endured years of severe isolation and abuse, leading her to adopt her captors' survivalist ideologies as a trauma response. She seeks solace in nature and fiercely protects the cabin's chickens, which serve as an outlet for her suppressed emotions and maternal desires.

Wes is an observant, nature-loving staff member at the Hidden Springs Resort. A self-described "plant nerd" who opposes hunting, his reverence for the wilderness makes him cautious about its dangers. He uses his tracking skills, knowledge of the local terrain, and botanical expertise to aid Brent in the desperate search for Miley after she disappears.

Jennifer is the owner of the Hidden Springs Resort. She manages the seasonal staff and is the one who ultimately reports Miley's disappearance to the authorities, knowing the tragic history of young women vanishing in the surrounding wilderness.

Jane is Miley's deceased mother, a hardworking single parent who worked long hours at a diner to support her daughter's athletic dreams. Her tragic death in a car crash leaves a lasting psychological impact on Miley, shaping the young biathlete's struggles with grief, guilt, and emotional vulnerability.

Annabelle is a chicken kept at the remote survivalist cabin. She serves as a vital source of emotional comfort and solace for Mary, taking on deep symbolic meaning within the bleak environment of the wilderness as a substitute for Mary's lost children.