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Anything for Jackson (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Anything for Jackson (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 97 min · English
Echo score 79
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Directed by
Justin G. Dyck
Starring
Sheila McCarthy, Josh Cruddas, Julian Richings, Claire Cavalheiro, Daxton William Lund, Kaitlyn Leeb
Budget
$250K

A grieving elderly couple, unable to cope with the loss of their grandchild, resort to a disturbing act. They kidnap an expectant mother in a desperate attempt to resurrect their lost loved one through a dangerous and unconventional ritual. As they delve deeper into their misguided plan, a sinister game of life and death ensues, threatening to consume them all and unleashing unforeseen consequences.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  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 Anything for Jackson
  8. 8 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Anything for Jackson Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Anything for Jackson (2020), 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.

  • Audrey Walsh

    played by Sheila McCarthy

    Audrey is driven by an intense grief that clouds her judgment, leading her to make decisions that ultimately endanger herself and others. Her determination to bring back her grandson reveals her vulnerability and her inability to process loss in a healthy way. As the story progresses, her character transforms from a seemingly normal woman to one haunted by her choices and the spirits they unleash.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Family
    • 😢 Grief
  • Henry Walsh

    played by Julian Richings

    Henry is portrayed as a distraught father and husband whose initial intentions blur as the horror unfolds around him. His complicity in the dark rituals showcases a descent into madness, driven by desperation and loss. He grapples with his conscience and ultimately faces the catastrophic consequences of their actions, embodying the tragic effects of grief and obsession.

    • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
    • ⚖️ Morality
  • Shannon Becker

    played by Konstantina Mantelos

    Shannon is a pregnant patient caught in the horrifying plans of Audrey and Henry. Her character encapsulates the theme of victimization, as she endures unimaginable terror and is forced to confront both literal and metaphorical demons. As the story progresses, she displays resilience and a fierce will to escape, becoming a key figure in the battle against the spirits unleashed by the couple's actions.

    • 👩‍⚕️ Pregnant
    • 🚪 Escape
  • Rory

    played by Yannick Bisson

    Rory serves as the intrusive handyman whose unwelcome presence escalates the chaos within the haunted house. His tragic demise at the hands of the unleashed evil serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of meddling with dark powers. Rory’s decline from a simple laborer to a victim highlights the reach of malevolent forces and their impact on innocence.

    • 👷‍♂️ Handyman
    • 💀 Tragedy
  • Detective Bellows

    played by Lanette Ware

    Detective Bellows is a determined investigator drawn into the mystery surrounding Shannon’s disappearance. Her character embodies the theme of truth-seeking in a world overwhelmed by deception and darkness. Unfortunately, her pursuit of justice spirals into tragedy as she becomes yet another victim of the malevolent forces plaguing the home.

    • 👮‍♀️ Detective
    • 🔍 Investigation

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:07

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Setting

Where and When Does Anything for Jackson Take Place?

The setting of Anything for Jackson (2020): 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 events unfold in a contemporary setting, where modern life intersects with ancient dark rituals. The characters navigate their troubled reality amid the shadows of past traumas, including the loss of loved ones. The juxtaposition of the mundane with the supernatural serves to heighten the sense of dread and urgency throughout the plot.

Location

Home

The story takes place primarily within the confines of the Walsh family's home, a seemingly ordinary residence that transforms into a terrifying battleground for supernatural forces. Known for its dark secrets and gruesome occurrences, the house becomes a character in itself, reflecting the psychological torment of its inhabitants. It is here that the couple embarks on their horrific rituals and confronts the malevolent spirits unleashed by their actions.

  • 🏡 Residence
  • 👻 Haunted

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:07

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3 major themes

Anything for Jackson Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Anything for Jackson (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Death & Grief

    The film delves deeply into themes of death and grief, showcasing how the loss of a loved one can lead individuals down a dark path in search of reunion. Audrey and Henry's desperate need to resurrect their deceased grandson ultimately leads to tragic consequences. This theme is amplified by the presence of apparitions linked to their past, highlighting the inescapable nature of grief and loss.

  • Supernatural

    A significant theme, the supernatural permeates the narrative as the couple's misguided attempts to use dark magic unleash chaos. The invocation of the demon Surgat and the manifestation of various spirits illustrate the unpredictable nature of dealing with dark forces. The film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tampering with the unknown and the ripple effects it can have on reality.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal weaves its way through the plot, manifesting in various relationships. Ian's ultimate treachery reveals the fragility of trust within the cult and between friends. Each betrayal leads to immediate and dire consequences, underscoring the idea that desperation can corrupt even the closest bonds, leading to irrevocable harm.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:07

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Character & theme questions

Anything for Jackson Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Anything for Jackson (2020): 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 does the story take place?

The movie is set primarily in the Walsh family home, a seemingly ordinary residence that transforms into a terrifying space as supernatural forces take hold. The house becomes almost a character itself, reflecting the psychological torment of its inhabitants and housing the dark rituals the couple performs.

  • walsh home
  • haunted house
  • setting
  • location
Q2

When is the movie set?

The story takes place in a contemporary, modern setting where everyday life collides with ancient dark rituals. This juxtaposition of the mundane with the supernatural heightens the sense of dread throughout the film.

  • contemporary
  • time period
  • modern setting
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The film explores three major themes: death and grief, the supernatural, and betrayal. The core story centers on how loss drives people to desperate measures, the dangerous consequences of tampering with dark forces, and how desperation corrupts trust between people.

  • themes
  • death
  • grief
  • supernatural
  • betrayal
Q4

How does the movie handle grief?

The film deeply explores grief through Audrey and Henry's desperate attempt to resurrect their deceased grandson. Their inability to process loss in a healthy way leads them down a dark path, ultimately causing more tragedy. The apparitions they encounter highlight the inescapable nature of mourning.

  • grief
  • loss
  • mourning
  • audrey
  • henry
Q5

What role does the supernatural play in the story?

The supernatural is central to the narrative. The couple's attempt to use dark magic to resurrect their grandson unleashes a demon called Surgat and various malevolent spirits. The film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of tampering with unknown forces.

  • supernatural
  • demon
  • surgat
  • spirits
  • magic
Q6

Who is Audrey Walsh and what motivates her?

Audrey Walsh is an elderly woman driven by intense grief over the loss of her grandchild. Her desperate need to bring him back clouds her judgment and leads her to make dangerous decisions that endanger herself and others. She transforms from a seemingly normal woman to someone haunted by her choices.

  • audrey walsh
  • grief
  • motivation
  • grandmother
Q7

Who is Henry Walsh and what is his role?

Henry Walsh is Audrey's distraught husband who becomes complicit in the dark rituals. Initially well-meaning, his desperation and loss lead him to descend into madness alongside his wife. He grapples with his conscience as the horror escalates, ultimately facing catastrophic consequences.

  • henry walsh
  • husband
  • grief
  • ritual
Q8

Who is Shannon Becker in the story?

Shannon Becker is a pregnant woman who becomes the victim of Audrey and Henry's plan. She is kidnapped because the couple believes she can help resurrect their grandson through a dangerous ritual. Throughout the story, she displays resilience and fights to escape the terror unleashed by their actions.

  • shannon becker
  • pregnant
  • victim
  • kidnapping
Q9

What happens to Rory the handyman?

Rory is an intrusive handyman who becomes involved in the chaotic events unfolding in the haunted house. His tragic demise at the hands of the unleashed evil serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of meddling with dark powers, highlighting how malevolent forces impact even innocent bystanders.

  • rory
  • handyman
  • victim
  • death
Q10

What is Detective Bellows' role in the movie?

Detective Bellows is a determined investigator who becomes involved in the mystery surrounding Shannon's disappearance. Representing truth-seeking in a world of deception, her pursuit of justice ultimately leads to tragedy as she becomes another victim of the malevolent forces in the house.

  • detective bellows
  • investigator
  • police
  • truth

Movie threads

More Movies Like Anything for Jackson, by Mood & Story

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

Grief horror movies with desperate rituals like Anything for Jackson

When profound loss leads characters to dangerously meddle with dark forces. If you liked the raw grief and dangerous occultism in Anything for Jackson, this list features similar movies where characters, driven by unbearable loss, attempt supernatural resurrections or summonings. These stories blend heavy emotional weight with intense, often chaotic, supernatural horror, creating a uniquely unsettling experience.

  • grief-stricken
  • desperate
  • macabre
  • sinister
  • unsettling
  • tormented
  • Tone: dark, desperate, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating chaos
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a catastrophic personal loss that breaks the protagonist. Their grief drives them to seek an unnatural solution, often involving a forbidden ritual or a pact with a dark entity. The story then escalates as the ritual spirals out of control, confronting them with horrors that mirror or amplify their internal suffering, leading to a climactic confrontation with the forces they've unleashed.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core premise: using horror to externalize the all-consuming nature of grief. They feature similar tones of despair and desperation, fast-paced escalations of supernatural chaos, and a heavy emotional weight that makes the scares feel deeply personal and consequential.

Claustrophobic supernatural siege horror movies like Anything for Jackson

Trapped in a confined space as malevolent supernatural forces close in. Fans of the trapped, chaotic hauntings in Anything for Jackson will enjoy these films centered on a supernatural siege. These movies feature a fast pace, high intensity, and a dark tone, as characters are confined and brutally tested by a parade of escalating ghostly or demonic threats.

  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • chaotic
  • sinister
  • desperate
  • intense
  • Tone: dark, tense, unsettling
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative structure is straightforward: a group or individual becomes trapped in a location that is quickly overtaken by supernatural activity. The story unfolds as a series of escalating attacks or manifestations, wearing down the characters physically and psychologically. There is often a central, flawed reason for the haunting (like a botched ritual) that the characters must uncover or confront to have any hope of survival.

Why they belong together: This grouping is defined by a shared visceral experience: the feeling of being trapped and hunted by an intangible, malevolent force. The movies share a high-intensity, fast-paced vibe, a dark and unsettling tone, and a focus on the chaos and terror of a confined supernatural attack, making the horror immediate and inescapable.

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Movies Like Anything for Jackson

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Every angle

Anything for Jackson (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Anything for Jackson 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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