Futaki is an aging man living on a decaying Hungarian estate who walks with a limp due to an injury. He originally plots to flee the estate with stolen money, but he quickly abandons his plans when he hears rumors of Irimiás returning. He places his faith in a charismatic figure out of a desperate desire for salvation from his bleak environment.

Irimiás is a charismatic former resident of the estate whom the villagers believed had been dead for a year and a half. Rather than a resurrected messiah, he operates as a low-level state police informant who uses his keen understanding of human psychology to manipulate vulnerable people. He speaks in vague, authoritative pronouncements that allow his followers to project their own desires onto him.

The Doctor is a reclusive, alcohol-dependent intellectual who attempts to fend off the surrounding decay by meticulously documenting everything he observes. He relies on others for basic provisions but avoids social interaction, viewing the estate's residents from a detached distance. His obsessive record-keeping serves as a psychological defense against his own physical and mental deterioration.

Petrina is Irimiás's loyal and subservient sidekick. He functions as an informant for the state authorities but lacks his partner's cunning and charisma. He prioritizes basic comforts and safety, frequently expressing cowardly objections about the practical dangers of their assignments.

Mrs. Schmidt is a resident of the estate trapped in a stifling marriage and desperate for an escape from her squalid provincial surroundings. When she learns that Irimiás is alive, she immediately envisions a glamorous life of luxury in the city. She views the returning figure less as a communal leader and more as a personal, romantic savior.

Schmidt is a greedy and quick-tempered villager who attempts to steal the collective earnings of the community. He forms a hesitant truce with Futaki after his scheme is discovered, only to drop the plan entirely when rumors of Irimiás surface. He struggles to manage his frustration when events do not go his way.

Esti is a vulnerable young girl living on the estate who suffers from severe neglect and manipulation. Desperate to earn the respect of her cruel older brother, she adopts his predatory worldview in a misguided attempt to prove her strength. Her search for control leads her to act out violently against the family cat. This behavior reflects the toxic environment of her community.

Sándor is a delinquent youth on the estate who acts as an accomplice for Irimiás. He cruelly torments his younger sister, Esti, by tricking her out of her meager savings with false promises of a money tree.

Kráner is a simple-minded and boisterous resident of the estate. He enthusiastically participates in collective action but is quickly derailed by alcohol and base desires, often requiring his wife to intervene and scold him.

Mrs. Kráner is a pragmatic and vocal woman who manages the material realities of her household. She previously worked as a provisioner for The Doctor but quit when the autumn rains made travel too difficult. She frequently voices the practical anxieties that others ignore.

Halics is a cowardly and ineffectual man who relies on alcohol to escape his dismal reality. He is thoroughly dominated by his religiously fanatic wife and intimidated by stronger men in the community.

Mrs. Halics is an intense religious fanatic who views the bleak events on the estate through an apocalyptic lens. She eagerly interprets the rumored return of Irimiás as a divine miracle, completely submitting to his authority.

The Headmaster is a resident of the estate who joins the desperate revelry in the bar while waiting for Irimiás. He harbors a strong physical attraction to Mrs. Schmidt and uses the drunken party as an excuse to dance closely with her.

The Landlord operates the dilapidated local bar where the community gathers. He constantly calculates his financial risks and obsesses over cleaning the persistent spiderwebs in his establishment. He views the villagers strictly as a source of profit and worries deeply about debts owed to him.

The Captain is a cold, authoritative police official who oversees informants in the region. He issues orders from a clean, organized office that directly contrasts with the muddy decay of the estate, reminding his subordinates of their absolute lack of power.

Mrs. Horgos is the neglectful mother of Esti and Sándor. She views her children primarily in terms of their utility on the farm, cutting Sándor loose when he proves useless while attempting to lock her daughters indoors to force them to work.

Kelemen is a local driver who spots Irimiás and Petrina in a nearby town, sparking the rumors of their return. He also discovers The Doctor collapsed in the mud and transports him to the hospital.

Kerekes is an intimidating farmer who frequents the local bar. He uses his physical presence to force others into submission, taking pleasure in ordering The Landlord around and accepting the subservience of weaker men like Halics.

Micur is the Horgos family cat. The animal becomes an unfortunate victim of Esti's desperate need to exert control over her environment, suffering terribly as the young girl acts out the predatory behavior she learned from her brother.