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Characters & Themes

Aftermath (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 94 min · English
JustWatch #15,029 15
Directed by
Elliott Lester

Following a devastating plane crash, two individuals find their lives unexpectedly connected. They grapple with profound grief, guilt, and the struggle to survive, while confronting secrets from their past. As they try to rebuild their lives, they must face the emotional fallout of the tragedy and the potential for healing and redemption.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Aftermath
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Aftermath (2017)

Where can you watch Aftermath? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on HBO Max, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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2 main characters · contains spoilers

Aftermath Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Aftermath (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Roman Melynk (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

    Roman is depicted as a dedicated family man and respected construction foreman grappling with the shocking loss of his loved ones. His emotional journey from hopeful anticipation of a family reunion to desolation highlights his profound grief. As the narrative progresses, his desire for closure leads him to confront the very person connected to his tragedy.

    • 👨‍👧‍👦 Family
    • 😢 Tragedy
    • 🔨 Grief
  • Jacob Jake Bonanos (Scoot McNairy)

    Jacob is depicted as an air traffic controller whose good intentions lead to devastating consequences. His internal struggle with guilt and regret following the disaster shapes his character, pushing him towards isolation. He represents the heavy burden of accountability as he seeks to escape from his past while simultaneously haunted by it.

    • 🔧 Guilt
    • 😟 Anxiety
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Isolation

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:53

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Setting

Where and When Does Aftermath Take Place?

The setting of Aftermath (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The narrative spans across significant life events, focusing on the immediate aftermath of an aviation disaster and the long-term effects of grief and guilt. This journey reflects on human experiences that resonate throughout different times as the characters attempt to navigate their sorrow and eventual paths to healing.

Location

Airport, Crash Site, Cemetery

The story unfolds in several key locations, including an airport where families anticipate joyful reunions and the crash site, ominously marked by loss and destruction. The cemetery serves as a poignant backdrop for reflections on grief and memory. Each location highlights the weight of tragedy and the personal connections lost.

  • ✈️ Airport
  • 🛩️ Crash Site
  • 🪦 Cemetery

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:53

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3 major themes

Aftermath Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Aftermath (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Grief

    Grief is a central theme in 'Aftermath', as both Roman and Jacob are deeply affected by the tragic accident. Roman's overwhelming sorrow and Jacob's guilt create a haunting exploration of loss that impacts their lives profoundly. The film illustrates how grief can shape one's identity and actions over time, leading to difficult choices.

  • Redemption

    The quest for redemption unfolds through Roman's journey after the tragedy and his confrontation with Jacob. Both characters seek closure but are met with the realities of their choices. This theme emphasizes the complexity of forgiveness and the difficult path toward healing when faced with unbearable circumstances.

  • Consequences

    The film examines the far-reaching consequences of actions, particularly in the wake of the aviation disaster. Roman's grief-driven decision leads to violent repercussions, while Jacob’s guilt manifests in varied forms of regret and paranoia. It is a stark reminder that every choice carries weight, influencing lives forever.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:53

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Character & theme questions

Aftermath Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Aftermath (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Aftermath set?

The movie takes place primarily at an airport, a crash site marked by destruction, and a cemetery. These locations represent the journey from hopeful anticipation to devastating loss and ultimately to grief and remembrance.

  • airport
  • crash site
  • cemetery
  • locations
  • setting
Q2

When does the story take place?

The narrative follows the immediate aftermath of an aviation disaster and extends through the long-term psychological effects on the characters. It follows a linear timeline spanning the years after the tragedy.

  • time period
  • aftermath
  • modern
  • grief timeline
Q3

What is the main theme of Aftermath?

Grief is the central theme, exploring how the devastating loss of family shapes identity and drives destructive behavior. The film shows how overwhelming sorrow consumes both Roman, who loses his family, and Jacob, the air traffic controller responsible for the crash.

  • grief
  • loss
  • theme
  • emotional weight
  • family
Q4

How does Aftermath explore redemption?

Redemption is examined through Roman's quest for closure after his family's death and his confrontation with Jacob. The film portrays the complex, often impossible path toward forgiveness when faced with unbearable loss, ultimately showing how the characters struggle to find healing.

  • redemption
  • forgiveness
  • closure
  • healing
  • journey
Q5

What role do consequences play in Aftermath?

The film emphasizes that every action carries profound weight. Roman's grief-driven choices lead to violent repercussions, while Jacob's guilt manifests as paranoia and isolation. Their interconnected fates demonstrate how one tragedy ripples outward, permanently altering multiple lives.

  • consequences
  • choices
  • accountability
  • impact
  • ripple effect
Q6

Who is Roman Melynk?

Roman Melynk (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a dedicated family man and construction foreman whose life is destroyed when his wife and children die in the plane crash. His journey from hopeful anticipation of reunion to devastating loss defines the film's emotional core.

  • roman
  • melynk
  • arnold schwarzenegger
  • family man
  • construction foreman
Q7

Who is Jacob Bonanos?

Jacob Bonanos (played by Scoot McNairy) is an air traffic controller whose error in judgment leads to the plane crash. Consumed by guilt and regret, he retreats into isolation while being haunted by the weight of his responsibility for the disaster.

  • jacob
  • bonanos
  • scoot mcnairy
  • air traffic controller
  • guilt
Q8

What is the tone of Aftermath?

The film maintains a relentlessly bleak and somber tone with no humor or romance. It offers minimal hope, instead depicting how tragedy leads to psychological deterioration, violence, and imprisonment. The emotional weight is heavy and the atmosphere is desolate throughout.

  • tone
  • bleak
  • mood
  • atmosphere
  • emotional
Q9

What connects Roman and Jacob?

Roman and Jacob are connected through the plane crash that killed Roman's family. Jacob, as the air traffic controller, bears responsibility for the error that caused the disaster, while Roman is the grieving widower seeking accountability and closure from the man responsible for his loss.

  • connection
  • plane crash
  • accountability
  • victim
  • responsible party
Q10

How does grief manifest in the characters?

Roman's grief manifests as overwhelming sorrow that consumes his identity and drives him toward violent retribution. Jacob experiences guilt as a парализующая сила, leading to his isolation and paranoia. Both characters show how grief and guilt can shape destructive actions and permanent psychological damage.

  • grief manifestation
  • psychological
  • destruction
  • trauma
  • guilt

Movie threads

More Movies Like Aftermath, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Aftermath tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about grief and consequences like Aftermath

Characters shattered by tragedy, grappling with guilt and the fallout of their actions. For viewers seeking movies like Aftermath that dive deep into the emotional devastation following a tragedy. These films share a heavy, somber mood, focusing on characters consumed by guilt and the painful, often bleak, consequences of their grief-driven actions.

  • grief-stricken
  • heavy
  • somber
  • despairing
  • agonizing
  • tense
  • Tone: bleak, despairing
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a catastrophic event that shatters the protagonist's world. The narrative then follows a linear, cause-and-effect path, documenting their psychological deterioration and the escalating consequences of their trauma, often leading to a final, sorrowful confrontation with the reality of their loss.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared exploration of profound sorrow, a bleak tone that offers little respite, and a narrative structure centered on the cause-and-effect relationship between tragedy and moral or psychological collapse. They deliver a consistently heavy, emotionally demanding experience.

Slow burn psychological dramas like Aftermath

A steady, unforgiving descent into despair and moral ruin after a triggering event. If you liked the slow, methodical pacing and intense psychological focus of Aftermath, this list features similar character-driven stories. These movies depict a steady descent into mental anguish, prioritizing emotional tension over fast-paced plot twists.

  • psychological
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • isolated
  • heavy
  • slow burn
  • Tone: bleak, tense, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a normal life disrupted by a traumatic incident. Instead of quick recovery, the story meticulously charts the protagonist's isolation and psychological fragmentation. The conflict is internal, and the climax is often a quiet yet devastating moment of complete collapse or a grim, irreversible action.

Why they belong together: They are united by a steady, deliberate pacing that amplifies feelings of dread and inescapable sorrow. The high emotional intensity comes from a deep focus on a character's internal struggle, resulting in a viewing experience that is tense, melancholic, and psychologically immersive.

If you liked this

Movies Like Aftermath

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Every angle

Aftermath (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Aftermath in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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