Beyond (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set primarily in Scotland, featuring both a contemporary town environment and a desolate post-apocalyptic landscape. Early scenes take place in everyday locations like a neighborhood shop and a house party, while later scenes shift to ruined streets and alien-occupied territories in the aftermath of an asteroid impact.

• scotland setting
• post-apocalyptic
• movie location

The narrative unfolds across two time periods: present-day ordinary life in Scotland and flash-forwards to a post-apocalyptic future where alien ships siege the devastated landscape. The asteroid crisis serves as the pivotal event that connects these timelines and drives the characters' decisions.

• time period
• present day
• future
• asteroid

The film explores three interconnected themes: Existentialism examining what gives life meaning when doom seems inevitable; Procreation centering on whether bringing a child into a doomed world is an act of hope or cruelty; and Responsibility questioning whether one can abdicate duty in the face of fear and how choices ripple outward.

• themes
• existentialism
• procreation
• responsibility
• meaning of life

Cole is the conflicted protagonist who grapples with cynicism and hope throughout the story. He strongly believes bringing a child into a doomed world is unethical and struggles with self-loathing while trying to find meaning amidst impending extinction. His relationship with Maya deteriorates under the pressure of the asteroid threat.

• cole main character
• protagonist

Maya is Cole's partner who chooses to embrace her pregnancy despite the approaching doom. She represents hope and resilience, viewing parenthood as a miraculous act of faith rather than a burden. Her unwavering stance anchors the story's exploration of human endurance and the will to create life even in darkest times.

• maya character
• pregnancy
• hopeful

Michael Dane is a shop cashier who attempts to intervene during a robbery and is gravely wounded in the process. He embodies a duty-bound ethic and challenges Cole's worldview, accusing him of abandoning his beliefs. His violent end becomes a catalyst for the film's moral crisis.

• michael
• dane
• shop cashier

Keith Novac is a survivalist who believes aliens are purging Earth to combat overpopulation. He demonstrates contact attempts with the aliens and ultimately helps save Cole's life, presenting the crisis as an opportunity for planetary renewal rather than pure destruction.

• keith novac
• survivalist
• aliens

The Existentialism theme examines how characters find purpose when facing inevitable doom. Cole wrestles with personal responsibility and self-loathing while Maya clings to hope, and their choices about whether to marry, have a child, or flee reveal how people construct meaning under extreme pressure.

• existentialism
• meaning
• doom

Maya's pregnancy becomes the focal point for hope and ethical debate. Cole argues against bringing a child into a doomed world, while Maya sees parenthood as a miracle. The pregnancy tests their relationship and forces both characters to confront questions of duty, legacy, and the fundamental value of life.

• pregnancy
• baby
• parenthood
• hop

The narrative uses a nonlinear structure that intercuts between present-day events showing ordinary life and flash-forwards depicting survival scenarios in post-apocalyptic Scotland. This creates ambiguity about which future events are real versus imagined, reflecting the characters' psychological states and their uncertainty about what lies ahead.

• flashforwards
• nonlinear
• post-apocalyptic timeline