Contracted: Phase II (2015) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story unfolds primarily in a hospital setting, which serves as a crucial battleground for survival. This location reflects both desperation and hope as patients and medical staff face the impending doom of a deadly virus outbreak.

• hospital setting
• virus outbreak location
• survival location

The events take place in a contemporary setting, marked by a looming viral threat that destabilizes the community. This time period is characterized by a palpable fear of infection, portraying society's struggle against an unseen terror.

• contemporary setting
• modern era
• virus threat timeline

The film explores three core themes: survival, which showcases the lengths individuals go to combat a lethal virus; betrayal, which highlights moral ambiguity through characters who exploit others during crisis; and pandemic, which serves as a catalyst for chaos and fear, reflecting real-world anxieties about infectious diseases.

• survival theme
• betrayal theme
• pandemic theme
• horror themes

Riley is the tormented protagonist struggling to navigate the horrors of a viral outbreak. He is deeply affected by the loss of loved ones and battles the symptoms that plague him, showing resilience in his quest for answers even as his condition deteriorates.

• Riley main character
• protagonist
• infected hero

BJ is the antagonist who possesses immunity to the virus while actively spreading it to others. His cold and calculated demeanor presents a chilling juxtaposition to Riley's desperate search for a cure, as he pursues his dark agenda without remorse.

• BJ antagonist
• villain
• virus spreader
• immune character

Detective Crystal Young is a no-nonsense police officer who teams up with Riley in his desperate journey. She is driven and resourceful, embodying determination in the face of escalating chaos as she faces tough decisions to prevent disaster.

• Detective Crystal Young
• police officer
• ally character

The theme of survival is at the heart of the narrative, showcasing the extreme lengths individuals will go to combat a lethal virus. Characters face intense moral dilemmas and physical threats as they navigate their desperate situations, emphasizing the primal instinct to survive against all odds.

• survival instinct
• moral dilemmas
• virus survival

The pandemic theme serves as a catalyst for chaos and fear, reflecting real-world anxieties about infectious diseases. The film explores societal breakdown and personal suffering caused by widespread infection, creating a nightmarish landscape of despair and hopelessness.

• pandemic
• infectious disease
• virus outbreak
• societal collapse

Betrayal weaves through the plot particularly through BJ's actions, who exploits the infected without remorse. This theme highlights the moral ambiguity within human relationships during crises, questioning who can be trusted when survival is at stake.

• betrayal
• moral ambiguity
• trusted characters
• crisis betrayal

Riley's family members who become victims of the virus include his grandmother Margie and his pregnant sister Brenda. Margie symbolizes the generational impact of the outbreak, while Brenda's situation highlights the vulnerabilities faced by expecting mothers in dire situations, adding urgency to Riley's mission.

• Riley family
• Margie grandmother
• Brenda sister
• pregnant character