Inside Monkey Zetterland

A struggling screenwriter and former child actor who is developing a historical script about the defunct Red Car subway in Los Angeles. He lives in a building owned by his neurotic mother, Honor, and secretly hopes for an acting breakthrough. His quest for artistic legitimacy collides with his family’s insistence on fame and success for others.

A famous soap-opera star and the controlling matriarch who pushes her son Brent toward stardom while using her industry clout to push Monkey’s script forward. She rents the basement apartment to unconventional tenants and is at the center of the family’s attention and ambition. Her relentless pursuit of relevance shapes many of the household’s conflicts.

Monkey’s sister who arrives in tears to reveal that her lesbian girlfriend Cindy is pregnant. Grace embodies vulnerability and the tension between personal life and family dynamics. Her arc culminates in a tragic act that forces the family to confront their own flaws.

Grace’s girlfriend who becomes pregnant from a one-night stand, illustrating the couple’s complex relationship within the family. Cindy’s presence underscores themes of acceptance and the complexities of non-traditional relationships. She remains a catalyst for Grace’s decisions and the family’s evolving dynamics.

A gay man posing as Sofie’s partner who, along with Sasha, publishes an underground newsletter outs gay people in entertainment. Sofie is revealed to be part of a terrorist plot, complicating her relationships and exposing the dangers of radical activism. Her actions pull the family into a broader political conflict and moral debate.

A gay man who presents himself as Sofie’s husband and collaborator; he is involved in the terrorist scheme against the insurance agency. Sasha’s dual life highlights themes of deception, radicalism, and the personal costs of extreme actions. His choices have consequences for the entire family.

A hairdresser turned potential film star who becomes the vehicle for Honor’s ambitions to launch a film project. Brent’s involvement embodies the intersection of talent, marketing, and the pressure to conform to industry expectations. He ultimately stars in the film adapted from Monkey’s script.

Monkey’s disagreeable girlfriend who ultimately moves out, reflecting the personal tensions in the household. Daphne represents a counterpoint to Monkey’s ambitions and contributes to the chaotic energy of the family dynamic. Her exit marks a shift in the family’s internal power balance.

A fan whose intrusive interest in Honor escalates to danger when she arrives with a gun and a fan letter for Honor. Bella’s actions trigger a sequence of events that test the family’s ability to respond to threats. She is quickly contained, but her presence amplifies the film’s tension around obsession and danger.

The estranged father who resurfaces for Thanksgiving after years of absence. His return forces the family to confront more than just their personal grievances and highlights themes of reconciliation and the long shadow of absent parental figures.

A strange woman who pursues Monkey’s attention, later becoming part of the household’s chaotic dynamic. Imogene challenges the status quo and acts as a catalyst for shifting relationships within the family. Her persistence underscores the film’s themes of desire and boundary-testing.

The family’s matriarchal figure whose presence grounds the household’s emotional core. Though not central to the plot’s main conflicts, Grandma represents continuity and a memory of older generations. Her role reinforces the film’s exploration of family lineage and enduring ties.

A minor character who appears in Canter’s Deli, contributing to the film’s LA setting and social texture. Her moment in the background helps ground the story in a real, bustling urban environment. She is part of the cast that brings Canter’s Deli to life as a social crossroads.

A younger version of Monkey that appears in flashbacks or references within the story’s framework about the actor’s early years. His presence hints at a long arc of performance within the Zetterland family. The character helps contextualize Monkey’s history as a former child actor.