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Eat Locals (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Eat Locals (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 93 mins · English
Directed by
Jason Flemyng
Starring
Tony Curran, Dexter Fletcher, Ben Russell, Charlie Cox, David Little, Jordan Long

A group of Britain’s vampires convene for their rare, fifty-year meeting at a secluded farmhouse. Unbeknownst to them, Sebastian, an Essex man believing he has a romantic encounter planned, and a team of Special Forces trained to eliminate vampires, are also present. What begins as a gathering quickly escalates into a dangerous confrontation where survival becomes uncertain for everyone involved, promising a night filled with unexpected twists and potentially deadly consequences.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Characters explained (13)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Every angle

13 main characters · contains spoilers

Eat Locals Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Eat Locals (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.

  • Peter Boniface (Tony Curran)

    A calculating vampire lord who enforces quotas and territory. He orchestrates moves from the shadows, prioritizing control and self-preservation over mercy. Peter is both a strategist and a force to be reckoned with, capable of brutal decision-making when needed.

    • 🗡️ Manipulative
    • 👑 Power-seeker
  • Henry (Charlie Cox)

    A centuries-old vampire bound by a strict vow not to harm humans, yet haunted by the pressures of survival. He navigates alliances carefully, balancing restraint with the ruthlessness required by crisis. Henry ultimately faces a choice that tests his moral code and his loyalty to the coven.

    • 🧭 Principled
    • 🗡️ Cunning
  • The Duke (Vincent Regan)

    A powerful vampire lord whose territory and status drive much of the conflict. The Duke embodies authority and aggression, pushing the coven toward bold but dangerous actions. His presence anchors the power dynamics within the summit and the ensuing siege.

    • 🏰 Territorial
    • 🗡️ Ruthless
  • Thomas (Jordan Long)

    A hot-headed vampire whose appetite for excess leads to him being executed for crossing lines and taking children. He represents the faction of the coven that values domination over restraint. Thomas's fate foreshadows the high cost of defiance within the hierarchy.

    • 🔥 Hot-headed
    • 🗡️ Violent
  • Vanessa (Eve Myles)

    A cunning vampire who arrives late with a guest and seizes opportunity through manipulation. She is capable of biting to assert dominance and seizing control of outcomes. Vanessa's actions propel the plot toward personal risk and dramatic reversals.

    • 🪄 Manipulative
    • 🩸 Predator
  • Angel (Freema Agyeman)

    A practical and resourceful vampire who forges uneasy alliances to survive. She fights when necessary and drives the escape plan forward, balancing pragmatism with a willingness to make dire choices. Angel's presence is instrumental in turning the tide of the siege.

    • 🧭 Resourceful
    • 🗡️ Determined
  • Chen (Lukaz Leong)

    A member of the vampire group who contributes to the strategic, if lethal, planning. Chen acts with quiet efficiency and loyalty to the coven's goals, even as danger escalates around him. His actions reflect the collective mindset of the summit's attendees.

    • 🧭 Loyal
    • 🗡️ Quiet
  • Alice (Annette Crosbie)

    A veteran coven member whose presence underscores the long history of the vampire community assembled at the summit. Alice is part of the tension between ritual tradition and the violent pragmatism that unfolds. Her fate signals the costs of power struggles within the coven.

    • 🧭 Veteran
    • 🗡️ Reserved
  • Sebastian (Billy Cook)

    A human guest who becomes entwined with the vampire plot, initially as a potential replacement and later as a driver in the escape. He embodies adaptability and a willingness to seize opportunity in a crisis. Sebastian's arc pivots on whether he chooses to join the coven or resist it.

    • 🤝 Opportunistic
    • 🚗 Proactive
  • Bingham (Robert Portal)

    A ruthless cosmetics magnate who profits from vampire samples and seeks to extend his power via scientific exploitation. He embodies the peril of corporate ambition in a world where life is a commodity. Bingham's actions push the siege toward a merciless, mercenary conclusion.

    • 💼 Profit-driven
    • 🧪 Exploitative
  • Larousse (Mackenzie Crook)

    A religious man among the soldiers who views the vampires as a total threat to be wiped out. Larousse's faith informs his willingness to pursue a decisive, uncompromising end to the conflict. He embodies the ethical clash between zeal and pragmatism.

    • 🙏 Devout
    • 🗡️ Zealous
  • Mr. Thatcher (Dexter Fletcher)

    The farmhouse owner who warns of danger beyond the forest and becomes a tragic figure as the siege unfolds. His hospitality is exploited by the intruders, and his fate underscores the vulnerability of civilians in a war between immortal tyrants and soldiers.

    • 🏠 Hostage
    • ⚔️ Vulnerable
  • Mrs. Thatcher (Ruth Jones)

    Co-owner of the farmhouse and a witness to the escalating horror. Her role emphasizes the civilians caught in the crossfire of the coven's ambitions and the soldiers' assault. Her presence anchors the domestic reality amid supernatural conflict.

    • 👩‍👧‍👦 Civilians
    • 🏚️ Victim

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:27

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Setting

Where and When Does Eat Locals Take Place?

The setting of Eat Locals (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

Location

Rural farmhouse, Forest edge

The primary setting is a small rural farmhouse owned by the Thatcher family, which becomes a fortress during a covert vampire summit. The interior spaces—the kitchen, living room, and basement—serve as the tense hub where captives are held and alliances are tested. Outside, the surrounding forest and a nearby road turn into a chaotic battleground as soldiers close in. The remote countryside amplifies isolation, escalating the stakes as dawn approaches.

  • 🏡 Rural farmhouse
  • 🌲 Forest edge

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:27

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3 major themes

Eat Locals Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Eat Locals (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Power

    A strict and brutal hierarchy governs the coven, with quotas and territory shaping every decision. Vampires treat humans as strategic resources to be controlled, traded, or eliminated. The summit reveals how authority is exercised through intimidation, ritual, and violence. The ensuing clash exposes the deadly economics of power within the undead society.

  • Deception

    Disguise and manipulation drive the plot, with betrayals and shifting loyalties keeping characters off balance. Peter and Vanessa maneuver to preserve or seize advantage, while Sebastian's presence as a guest introduces questions of trust. The failed negotiation and hostage drama push the story toward a desperate, dawn-driven resolution. Survival hinges on who can outsmart whom before the light arrives.

  • Exploitation

    The cosmetics company represents consumer culture run amok, treating vampiric blood and skin as a marketable commodity. The plan to extract samples for product development casts the conflict as a critique of profit-driven science. Blood, beauty, and youth are weaponized in a deadly circle of exploitation. The narrative critiques how far industry will go in the name of rejuvenation.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:27

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Character & theme questions

Eat Locals Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Eat Locals (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 vampire summit held in the movie?

The vampire summit takes place at a remote rural farmhouse owned by the Thatcher family. This secluded location in the countryside serves as a fortress for the coven's rare fifty-year meeting, with the interior spaces, kitchen, living room, and basement, becoming the tense hub where captives are held and alliances are tested. The surrounding forest and nearby road later transform into a chaotic battleground.

  • vampire summit
  • farmhouse location
  • british vampires
  • rural setting
Q2

What happens to the Thatcher family during the siege?

Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher are the owners of the farmhouse whose hospitality is exploited by the vampire coven. Mr. Thatcher warns of danger beyond the forest before the siege escalates, becoming a tragic figure as the conflict unfolds. Their home becomes a war zone between immortal tyrants and soldiers, underscores the vulnerability of civilians caught in the crossfire of supernatural and military conflicts.

  • thatcher family
  • farmhouse owners
  • civilians
  • victims
Q3

How does the vampire coven structure its power?

The coven operates under a strict and brutal hierarchy governed by quotas and territory. Vampire lords like Peter Boniface and The Duke enforce control through intimidation, ritual, and violence. Vampires treat humans as strategic resources to be controlled, traded, or eliminated. The deadly economics of power within the undead society shapes every decision, with the summit revealing how authority is exercised.

  • vampire hierarchy
  • coven power
  • quotas
  • territory
  • peter boniface
  • the duke
Q4

What makes Henry's character unique among the vampires?

Henry is a centuries-old vampire bound by a strict vow not to harm humans, yet haunted by the pressures of survival in a world where such restraint is costly. He navigates alliances carefully, balancing restraint with the ruthlessness required by crisis. His arc forces him to choose between his moral code and loyalty to the coven, representing the tension between conscience and survival.

  • henry vampire
  • moral conflict
  • centuries old
  • abstain from killing
Q5

What role does the cosmetics company play in the story?

The cosmetics company represents consumer culture run amok, treating vampiric blood and skin as a marketable commodity. Bingham, a ruthless cosmetics magnate, profits from vampire samples and seeks to extend his power via scientific exploitation. The plan to extract samples for product development casts the conflict as a critique of profit-driven science, where blood, beauty, and youth are weaponized in a deadly circle of exploitation.

  • cosmetics company
  • bing ham
  • exploitation
  • vampire blood
  • beauty industry
Q6

How does deception drive the plot forward?

Disguise and manipulation are central to the narrative, with betrayals and shifting loyalties keeping characters off balance. Peter and Vanessa maneuver to preserve or seize advantage, while Sebastian's presence as a human guest introduces questions of trust. The failed negotiation and hostage drama push the story toward a desperate, dawn-driven resolution where survival hinges on who can outsmart whom.

  • deception
  • betrayal
  • manipulation
  • sebastian
  • vanessa
  • peter
Q7

Who is Sebastian and what is his significance?

Sebastian is a human from Essex who arrives at the farmhouse believing he has a romantic encounter planned, unaware it is actually a vampire coven meeting. He becomes entwined in the vampire plot, initially as a potential replacement and later as a driver in the escape. His arc pivots on whether he chooses to join the coven or resist it, representing human adaptability amid supernatural threats.

  • sebastian
  • essex man
  • human guest
  • potential vampire
Q8

What defines Vanessa's role in the story?

Vanessa is a cunning vampire who arrives late with a guest and seizes opportunity through manipulation. She is capable of biting to assert dominance and seizing control of outcomes. Her actions propel the plot toward personal risk and dramatic reversals, making her a key agent of chaos in the escalating conflict.

  • vanessa
  • cunning
  • manipulation
  • vampire lord
Q9

Why do soldiers attack the farmhouse?

A team of Special Forces trained to eliminate vampires assaults the farmhouse. Among them is Larousse, a religious man who views vampires as a total threat to be wiped out. His faith informs his willingness to pursue a decisive, uncompromising end to the conflict, embodying the ethical clash between zeal and pragmatism in the assault.

  • special forces
  • soldiers
  • larousse
  • military assault
  • religious zealot
Q10

What is the tone of the film despite its dark themes?

While the film features high-stakes confrontation, constant threat of death, and strong violence including executions and gunfights, it is balanced by dark comedy and crude humor derived from its premise and character interactions. The dominant tone is tense but punctuated with comedic elements, preventing the story from becoming overwhelmingly heavy despite its brutal themes.

  • tone
  • dark comedy
  • horror comedy
  • crude humor
  • violent tone

Movie threads

More Movies Like Eat Locals, by Mood & Story

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

Chaotic Siege Horror Movies like Eat Locals

Trapped groups fight for survival with a mix of brutal violence and crude jokes. If you liked the claustrophobic battle and darkly funny survival story of Eat Locals, you'll enjoy these movies. This list features similar horror comedies and action films where a siege scenario leads to chaotic violence, desperate alliances, and a tense, fast-paced narrative.

  • claustrophobic
  • action-packed
  • dark humor
  • chaotic
  • survivalist
  • bloody
  • Tone: tense, darkly humorous
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically begin with a group gathering in an isolated location, which quickly becomes a battlefield. External forces launch a surprise attack, forcing the characters to defend themselves. The plot revolves around the escalating chaos, shifting loyalties, and the grim humor that arises from the sheer absurdity and desperation of the situation, often ending with a pyrrhic victory for a few survivors.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared high-intensity, fast-paced siege structure and their unique tonal blend. They balance genuine tension and graphic violence with moments of dark, often crude, comic relief, creating a specific viewing experience that is both thrilling and darkly amusing.

Movies about Vampire Societies like in Eat Locals

Secret supernatural communities face external threats that disrupt their ancient rules. Fans of the vampire council and quota system in Eat Locals will appreciate these films. Explore movies that delve into the rules, politics, and dark humor of secret monster societies, especially when their hidden world is violently exposed or attacked by organized human enemies.

  • supernatural society
  • bureaucratic
  • satirical
  • hidden world
  • betrayal
  • action
  • Tone: dark, satirical
  • Pacing: steady, with fast bursts
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves introducing a structured, often bureaucratic, monster society. A routine event, like a meeting or ceremony, is interrupted by an external incursion or internal revolt. The story explores the collapse of order, the practicality (or hypocrisy) of the society's rules under pressure, and the survival of a few key members who must adapt or escape.

Why they belong together: These movies share a focus on world-building around a supernatural society, blending horror with satirical or comedic elements about bureaucracy and quotas. They combine the fantastical with the mundane, creating a unique vibe where epic survival struggles are rooted in oddly relatable organizational problems.

Every angle

Eat Locals (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Eat Locals in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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