Cherry Falls

A determined teenage girl who questions her town's vanity and protects her friends as a killer stalks virgins. She confronts her parents' secrets and risks danger to uncover the truth. Her resourcefulness drives the pursuit of justice in a town where appearances mask danger.

The town sheriff, a principled protector of order who is torn between duty and family secrets. He reveals troubling aspects of the town's past, including Lora Lee's history, and the possibility of a complicated paternity. His stance on truth versus appearances drives much of the conflict.

The English teacher who is Lora Lee Sherman's illegitimate son and the killer in disguise. He assumes a female persona to terrify and murder virgins, using calculated manipulation to hide his brutality.

Jody's boyfriend who is murdered in the woods early on, triggering the investigation. His death marks the transition from small-town normalcy to a murderous crisis and underscores the fragility of teen life.

Jody's boyfriend who grapples with the evolving relationship and ultimately aids in Jody's escape. He shows courage and loyalty in the face of danger, acting as a foil to the town's hidden rot.

The current high school principal and Brent's old ally; he becomes a nervous presence as the town clings to a fragile sense of safety. He participates in the investigation and stands as a symbol of institutional pressure.

A virgin who is home alone when she is killed in the same manner as the others. Her death reinforces the town's obsession with purity and the dangerous price of secrecy.

The deputy who ultimately confronts the killer, representing decisive, violent justice in a town that hungers for answers. She brings resolution when the threat is finally neutralized.

Annette Duwald's father, a local figure in the town's tight-knit community. He embodies the ordinary adult who becomes part of the town's tangled web of secrets.