It Comes at Night (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set in a dense, eerie wooded area in an isolated location. The story unfolds primarily in an underground shelter that the families use as refuge, surrounded by abandoned locations that symbolize the collapse of society. The desolate forest creates a suffocating atmosphere of foreboding throughout the film.

• setting
• location
• woods
• shelter
• abandoned

It Takes at Night is set in a near-future dystopia, after a devastating virus has ravaged the world. This time period is characterized by fear, mistrust, and the disintegration of societal norms, forcing survivors to make unforgiving moral decisions in an unforgiving landscape.

• time period
• dystopia
• future
• virus
• post-apocalyptic

The film explores three interconnected themes: Loss, as characters grieve the death of loved ones and their former lives; Isolation, both physical and emotional, which creates tension and paranoia between the families; and Survival, depicting the desperate choices people make when trust becomes a scarce resource and civilization has collapsed.

• themes
• loss
• isolation
• survival
• trust

Isolation is central to the narrative, both literally and emotionally. The characters are physically cut off from the outside world in their underground shelter, and this isolation breeds suspicion and fear. The walls they build to protect themselves from the virus ultimately lead to their undoing, as the isolation prevents any possibility of genuine human connection or trust.

• isolation
• trust
• paranoia
• shelter
• confinement

The film centers on two families: Paul (the protective father) and Sarah (the mother) along with their son Travis; and Will and Kim (another desperate couple seeking shelter). Paul leads the household with fierce loyalty to his family, while Travis serves as the sensitive young man haunted by nightmares. Will represents the uncertainty of trust in a fractured world.

• characters
• paul
• sarah
• travis
• will
• kim
• families

Paul is the determined father portrayed by Joel Edgerton who struggles to protect his family in the decaying post-virus world. He embodies the conflict between aggression and vulnerability, making difficult decisions to ensure his family's survival. His fierce loyalty often leads to actions that ultimately impact everyone in the shelter.

• paul
• father
• joel edgerton
• protector
• leader

Travis is the young son portrayed by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who serves as the emotional core of the film. He is sensitive and impressionable, haunted by nightmares that reflect the trauma of his reality. His character represents the loss of innocence as he confronts fear, grief, and the complexities of human relationships in a world that has been turned upside down.

• travis
• kelvin harrison jr
• young
• innocence
• nightmares

The film depicts a world devastated by an unseen virus that has caused societal collapse. It portrays a brutal, unforgiving dystopia where survival is paramount and trust is dangerous. The outside world is implied to be deadly, forcing survivors into isolation while the constant threat of infection creates a psychological atmosphere of dread and suspicion.

• world
• virus
• dystopia
• society collapse
• infection

Trust is portrayed as both essential and fatal in this story. When Will's family arrives seeking shelter, an uneasy alliance forms between the families. However, the film demonstrates how fear and paranoia quickly erode this fragile trust, leading to tragic consequences. The complete collapse of trust ultimately proves more dangerous than the virus itself.

• trust
• alliance
• paranoia
• suspicion
• betrayal

The isolated wooded area and underground shelter are crucial to the film's tension. The single location creates claustrophobia and heightens the psychological pressure on the characters. The desolation reinforces the theme of societal collapse, while the enclosed space forces the families into close contact, making their paranoia and eventual conflict unavoidable.

• setting
• shelter
• woods
• claustrophobia
• location