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Don't Kill It (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Don't Kill It (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 83 min · English
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Directed by
Mike Mendez

A terrifying force descends upon a small Mississippi town, possessing people and unleashing chaos. A seasoned demon hunter, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren, recognizes the threat and teams up with a doubtful FBI agent. Together, they must confront the possessed killer and find a way to stop the escalating horror and return peace to the community.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  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 Don't Kill It
  8. 8 Every angle
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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Don't Kill It Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Don't Kill It (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.

  • Jebediah Woodley

    Jebediah Woodley is a seasoned demon hunter, deeply committed to fighting the evil that has been unleashed in his community. His experience and unwavering courage are pivotal as he leads the charge against the demonic threat. Woodley's struggle with his own past and the sacrifices he must make to protect others showcase his resilience and determination.

    • 🔪 Demon Hunter
    • 💪 Courageous
  • Evelyn Pierce

    Agent Evelyn Pierce is an intelligent and determined FBI investigator drawn into the turmoil caused by the demon's influence. Her inquisitive nature drives the investigation, revealing chilling truths about the murders. Her personal backstory introduces layers of vulnerability, making her character relatable as she confronts her fears and faces the darkness enveloping the town.

    • 👮‍♀️ Investigator
    • 🔍 Relentless
  • Marcus

    Marcus serves as a neighbor who ultimately confronts the fallout from Gabriel's transformation. His role as a bystander turned participant signifies the broader impact of evil on unsuspecting individuals. His actions reflect a community's struggle to deal with surreal terrors that disrupt their everyday lives.

    • 💔 Neighbor
    • 👁️ Witness

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

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Setting

Where and When Does Don't Kill It Take Place?

The setting of Don't Kill It (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

While the summary does not specify a distinct historical period, the presence of modern law enforcement and a contemporary setting suggests it takes place within the current timeline. This setting emphasizes present-day fears regarding violence, possession, and supernatural threats.

Location

Southern Mississippi, Secluded Cabin

The movie is primarily set in the wilds of southern Mississippi, an area known for its dense forests and remote locations. This backdrop creates a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror elements of the story. The secluded cabin becomes a significant location as it holds secrets related to the sinister demon and its connection to the characters.

  • 🌲 Wilderness
  • 🏚️ Cabin

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

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3 major themes

Don't Kill It Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Don't Kill It (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Possession

    The theme of possession is central to the narrative, showcasing how an insidious demon influences and controls individuals, turning them into killers. This theme explores the loss of agency and the horror of becoming a vessel for malevolent forces. The transformations illustrate the struggle between good and evil and the dire costs of confronting dark entities.

  • Sacrifice

    Sacrifice is a recurring theme in the film, with characters faced with the harsh reality of losing their lives to confront evil. It highlights the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones and rid their community of dark forces. The ultimate sacrifice made by characters underscores the heavy toll of their battle against the demon.

  • Chaos

    Chaos permeates the story as the demon wreaks havoc, instigating violence and turning friends against each other. This theme reflects the unpredictability of evil acts and the confusion and fear they instill within a community. The escalating mayhem leads characters to confront their darkest fears, resulting in tragic outcomes.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:24

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Character & theme questions

Don't Kill It Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Don't Kill It (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 the movie set?

The film takes place in southern Mississippi, featuring dense forests and remote wilderness areas that create a haunting atmosphere. A secluded cabin serves as a significant location, holding secrets connected to the demon and its victims.

  • mississippi setting
  • cabin location
  • southern horror movie setting
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The movie is set in the present day, as evidenced by the presence of modern law enforcement and FBI agents. This contemporary setting emphasizes present-day fears about violence, possession, and supernatural threats.

  • modern day
  • present day
  • contemporary setting
Q3

What is the main theme of possession in the film?

Possession is the central theme, depicting how a demon influences and controls individuals, turning them into killers. The theme explores the horror of losing agency and becoming a vessel for malevolent forces, illustrating the struggle between good and evil.

  • possession theme
  • demonic possession
  • loss of agency
Q4

How does sacrifice play into the story?

Sacrifice is a recurring theme as characters face losing their lives to confront evil. The film highlights the lengths people will go to protect loved ones and rid their community of dark forces, with characters making ultimate sacrifices that underscore the heavy toll of battling the demon.

  • sacrifice
  • heroic sacrifice
  • protecting others
Q5

What role does chaos play in the movie?

Chaos permeates the story as the demon incites violence and turns friends against each other. This theme reflects the unpredictability of evil acts and the fear they instill within a community, leading characters to confront their darkest fears with tragic results.

  • chaos
  • violence
  • community terror
Q6

Who is Jebediah Woodley?

Jebediah Woodley is a seasoned demon hunter who is deeply committed to fighting the evil unleashed in his community. His experience and courage are pivotal in leading the charge against the demonic threat, and he struggles with his past while making sacrifices to protect others.

  • jebediah woodley
  • demon hunter
  • main character
Q7

Who is Evelyn Pierce?

Agent Evelyn Pierce is an intelligent and determined FBI investigator drawn into the town turmoil caused by the demon's influence. Her inquisitive nature drives the investigation, revealing chilling truths about the murders while she confronts her own fears and vulnerabilities.

  • evelyn pierce
  • fbi agent
  • female lead
Q8

What is Marcus's role in the story?

Marcus serves as a neighbor who confronts the fallout from the demon's transformation of others. His role as a bystander turned participant represents the broader impact of evil on unsuspecting individuals and reflects a community's struggle to deal with surreal terrors disrupting everyday life.

  • marcus
  • neighbor character
  • supporting character
Q9

Why is the cabin important in the movie?

The secluded cabin serves as a significant location in the story, holding secrets related to the sinister demon and its connection to the characters. It becomes a focal point where key confrontations occur and where the nature of the threat is revealed.

  • cabin
  • secluded location
  • key location
Q10

How does the Mississippi setting contribute to the horror?

The southern Mississippi wilderness, with its dense forests and remote locations, creates a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror elements. The isolation of these settings amplifies the sense of vulnerability and dread as the demon's influence spreads through the community.

  • mississippi wilderness
  • isolated setting
  • atmospheric horror

Movie threads

More Movies Like Don't Kill It, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Don't Kill It tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Rural supernatural horror movies like Don't Kill It

Isolated communities battling a relentless, spreading supernatural evil. If you liked the small-town demonic chaos of Don't Kill It, explore more movies where isolated communities are besieged by a spreading supernatural threat. These films combine a familiar, claustrophobic setting with high-stakes, fast-paced horror, creating a desperate fight for survival.

  • tense
  • chaotic
  • hopeless
  • brutal
  • claustrophobic
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, desperate, horrifying
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a localized supernatural incursion that quickly escalates, turning neighbors and family members into threats. The plot follows a procedural hunt to understand and contain the evil, often led by an outsider expert paired with a local, set against a backdrop of mounting casualties and paranoia.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared premise of a contained, rural setting under supernatural assault, a fast pace driven by a spreading threat, and a tone of desperate, communal survival against overwhelming odds.

Bleak monster hunter stories similar to Don't Kill It

Grizzled experts fight evil at a terrible, permanent personal price. For viewers who enjoyed the grim professionalism and heavy cost of battling evil in Don't Kill It, this thread collects movies about cynical monster hunters. These stories focus on the brutal, often pyrrhic victories against supernatural forces, where success comes with profound loss.

  • hopeless
  • brutal
  • tense
  • grim
  • desperate
  • sacrificial
  • Tone: dark, bleak, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a world-weary expert who understands the rules of a specific evil. They attempt to contain or destroy it, often forming a fraught alliance with an unprepared newcomer. The central conflict is not just physical but philosophical, questioning whether the evil can ever be truly defeated, culminating in a victory that feels like a loss.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on a specific character archetype—the cynical hunter—coupled with a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and an ending that underscores the grim, cyclical nature of their fight, making the victory feel hollow or temporary.

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Movies Like Don't Kill It

Similar movies to Don't Kill It: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Don't Kill It (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Don't Kill It 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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