The Mother is an unnamed widow living with her two young children in an isolated, 300-year-old New England farmhouse. Following the recent accidental death of her husband, she struggles with deep grief, physical exhaustion, and social isolation. She has vitiligo, a skin condition that has historically made her a target for cruelty from her peers and her father-in-law. When a terrifying intruder breaks into her home, she relies on her fierce maternal instincts and a deeply ingrained hypervigilance to keep her children alive.

The Corner is a terrifying intruder who breaks into the family's isolated home during a blizzard. He previously encountered the family as the manager of a local sandwich shop, where he exhibited a disturbing and inappropriate focus on The Daughter. He uses psychological intimidation as he hunts the family through the dark house, taunting them with twisted nursery rhymes and waiting for them to reveal their hiding spot.

The Husband is The Mother's recently deceased spouse and a successful aerial photographer. While he initially provided his wife with the family structure she deeply desired, he frequently dismissed her fears as irrational overreactions. His passive response to his father's cruelty left his wife vulnerable, and his sudden, accidental death leaves his family entirely isolated in their antiquated home.

The Father-in-Law is a bitter and abusive man who harbors deep resentment toward his daughter-in-law. He consistently degrades her physical appearance, accuses her of poor parenting, and physically assaulted her after his wife's death. Following his son's passing, he maintains a hostile stance and attempts to restrict The Mother's access to her own children.

The Sergeant is a local police officer who initially investigated The Husband's death and later responds to the home invasion emergency. He embodies systemic misogyny by immediately doubting The Mother's account of the break-in. He weaponizes her grief and vulnerability, actively gaslighting her by suggesting she manufactured the intruder due to a mental health crisis.

The Daughter is The Mother's perceptive young child, who shares her mother's vitiligo skin condition. She recognizes the intruder's voice as the "Corner man" from her nightmares. She relies entirely on her mother for protection while trapped in the hidden room behind the fireplace.

The Son is a sensitive young boy who struggles with bed-wetting and frequent nightmares following the onset of the pandemic and his father's sudden death. His grandfather frequently criticizes him for being overly emotional, making him highly dependent on his mother's gentle nurturing.

The Mother-in-Law is The Husband's late mother. Her terminal cancer diagnosis prompted the family to move to the 300-year-old home to care for her. She appreciated having her grandchildren nearby, though her illness placed a heavy caretaking burden almost entirely on her daughter-in-law.

The Young Officer is a boyish, less experienced policeman who assists The Sergeant in investigating the reported home invasion. He generally follows his superior's lead in searching the property and attempting to make sense of the chaotic scene.

The Psychiatrist is a blunt but empathetic mental health professional who evaluates The Mother at the hospital. Unlike local law enforcement, he validates her traumatic experiences and encourages her to cooperate with protocols so she can safely reunite with her children.

The Neighbor Woman is a resident of the modern housing development adjacent to the woods. She helps care for The Mother by providing warm tea, dry clothes, and contacting emergency services, though she struggles to understand the frantic situation.

The Neighbor Man is a homeowner living near the forest path who answers The Mother's desperate knock for help. He and his wife shelter her from the blizzard and attempt to coordinate with 911 dispatchers.

The Female Lawyer is an attorney retained by The Mother to handle the impending Child Protective Services investigation. She provides strategic counsel and reassures her client about the process of regaining custody of her children.

The Mother's Grandmother is the woman who raised The Mother after her biological parent was killed by a drunk driver. She provided early lessons about the world's inherent injustices during the subsequent legal proceedings.

The Mother's biological parent, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver when her daughter was only nine years old. Her sudden death left a permanent psychological scar and taught her daughter that safety is an illusion.