Ellery is a high school teacher in her early forties recovering from a sudden and unwanted divorce. She travels alone to a luxury California resort on what would have been her twentieth wedding anniversary. She carries intense, unhealed trauma from a fatal bus accident two years prior, leaving her heavily isolated from the wealthy, celebratory crowds around her. Her deep grief makes her highly observant, allowing her to notice unusual details as the situation at the hotel rapidly deteriorates.

Olivia is a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties who is preparing for her wedding at The Resort at Broken Point. Although she radiates youthful happiness outwardly, she privately feels burdened by the massive, extravagant event her mother orchestrated against her wishes. She possesses a gentle demeanor and quickly forms a sympathetic connection with Ellery before tragedy disrupts her celebration.

Ravi is an elegant, graceful guest vacationing at the resort with his friend Nina. He dresses immaculately and views the world with a mixture of humor and sharp intelligence. When disaster strikes and traps the guests, he eagerly adopts the role of an amateur investigator, using his knowledge of mystery tropes to organize searches and question suspects.

Nina is a poised, impeccably dressed woman with an excellent accent and a constantly evaluating gaze. She travels with Ravi and brings a calming, practical energy to their trio with Ellery. She resists Ravi's attempts to play detective at first, preferring to trust the resort staff, but remains fiercely loyal to her friends as the danger escalates.

Andy is an athletic, attractive groomsman who strikes up a conversation with Ellery during a morning hike. He separates himself slightly from the rowdier members of the wedding party, preferring early morning wilderness walks to late-night drinking. He is highly capable in the outdoors and offers to guide others when the storm isolates the property.

Catherine is the exacting and demanding mother of the bride. She assumed total control over the wedding planning, expanding the event into a massive, luxurious affair against her daughter's wishes. She projects an air of intense exhaustion and high expectations, frequently clashing with the resort staff and the other guests when her strict standards are not met.

Rachel is Olivia's beautiful, blonde cousin and maid of honor. She is fiercely protective of the bride and acts as a shield between Olivia and the chaotic events unfolding at the resort. She views outsiders with deep suspicion, actively questioning the investigative motives of Ellery, Ravi, and Nina.

Morgan is a young, beautiful social media influencer who travels to the resort to announce her pregnancy to her large online following. She and her husband document their luxurious trip constantly, focusing on maintaining a perfect public image. A former masseuse, she frequently offers her services to other guests to pass the time when the storm hits.

Maddox is an influencer with a curated, hipster aesthetic who travels to Big Sur to film content with his wife. While he usually projects a relaxed, camera-ready persona, the stress of the lockdown reveals a grim, harder edge to his personality. He frequently wanders the property alone, arousing the suspicion of the amateur sleuths.

Jason is one of the groomsmen attending the lavish wedding weekend. Like the rest of the wedding party, he arrives at the isolated resort expecting a carefree celebration. He frequently blends into the background of the privileged group, standing alongside the other young men who treat the resort staff with casual entitlement.

Abby is Ellery's best friend and a fellow high school teacher. Having survived the same fatal bus crash that haunts Ellery, Abby serves as the only person who truly understands the depth of Ellery's trauma. She offers steady, loyal advice from afar, acting as Ellery's primary lifeline to sanity and safety.

Luke is Ellery's former husband of twenty years. His sudden decision to end their marriage and pursue a new relationship sends Ellery into a spiral of grief. Though he is absent from the resort, his past failures to support Ellery during critical emergencies weigh heavily on her mind as she faces the crisis in Big Sur.

Ben is the unfortunate groom whose death in the resort's pool kicks off the central mystery. Described by his friends as a kind and thoughtful man, his sudden disappearance and the cold text message canceling the wedding shock everyone who knew him. His death forces the stranded guests to confront the possibility of a killer among them.

Matt is Ben's best man, tasked with managing the unruly groomsmen during the wedding weekend. He copes with the shock of the canceled wedding by quickly looking for someone to blame, directing his anger toward Olivia. His abrasive approach to the tragedy creates immediate friction with the other guests.

Grace is a confident ultramarathoner and wilderness safety expert visiting the coast with her father, Gary. She handles the physical challenges of the coastal trails with ease. She arrived at the property to scatter her late mother's ashes, bringing a solemn personal purpose to her vacation that grounds her during the ensuing chaos.

Gary is an older gentleman in his sixties who visits the resort with his adult daughter, Grace. He acts as a calming, observant presence during group hikes and meals. A retired judge, he relies on his extensive legal background to offer logical perspectives when the stranded guests begin to panic and turn on each other.

Canyon is a blonde, attractive employee at The Resort at Broken Point. Initially appearing as a typical, polished luxury worker, the mounting crisis forces him to drop his performative customer-service facade. He eventually takes on an authoritative, almost guard-like role as he attempts to enforce safety rules and manage the increasingly volatile guests.

Brook is a dedicated staff member at the resort who finds herself overwhelmed by the logistical nightmare of a mudslide and multiple deaths. She initially accepts Ellery's help with housekeeping duties but grows increasingly strict as the danger mounts, eventually ordering the guests to stop investigating for their own safety.

Trevor is a vocal, heavy-drinking member of the wedding party. He demands attention from the resort staff and organizes a chaotic memorial service after the groom disappears. His abrasive behavior and open suspicion of the hotel employees create heavy friction between the wealthy guests and the working-class staff.

Maddie is Ellery's eight-year-old daughter. She lives with her father Luke following her parents' divorce and communicates with her mother via video chat, serving as a vital connection to Ellery's life outside the resort. Her well-being remains Ellery's primary motivation for surviving the ordeal.

Ethan is Ellery's son, who requires a calm, predictable environment to manage his autism. He stays with his father and sister while his mother attempts to take a restorative trip to California. Ellery frequently worries about his routine and safety while she is trapped at the resort.

Rick is Catherine's husband and the father of the bride, Olivia. He is present at the resort for the wedding weekend but remains largely in the background while his wife orchestrates the lavish event. He acts as a quiet supporter, eventually stepping into the fray when physical evidence of a crime appears near their cottage.