Lady, Stay Dead

A handyman at the Rocky Beach Motel whose quiet exterior hides a brutal, calculating predator. He invades Marie’s space, rapes her, and murders her by drowning her in a fish tank. His temper erupts into violence against Billy Shepherd and his dog, and he continues to manipulate situations as the net closes in. The climax shows his collapse under pursuit and violence begetting more violence.

Marie’s sister, wary and observant, becomes entangled in Mason’s crime scene as she tries to reach Marie and later to warn others. She pieces together clues—knowledge of the house, footprints, and missing people—and persists despite danger. Jenny’s resilience and suspicion drive the investigation forward, and she endures the threat of Mason until help arrives.

A bossy, sharp-t tempered woman who clashes with Mason, ultimately becoming his victim. The discovery of her jewels in the fish tank marks the brutal nature of the crime and the personal tragedy behind the mystery. Her death catalyzes Jenny’s investigation and the police pursuit.

A determined police officer who confronts Mason and attempts to negotiate before the confrontation escalates. He vows to bring Mason to justice and pursues him with resolve, ultimately fighting him in a pool and drowning the attacker. His actions reflect a sense of duty and protective instinct toward Jenny and Marie’s memory.

Known as Pops, he is Mason’s pursuing partner who is killed early in the confrontation when Mason shoots from the cop car. His death heightens the danger and underscores the peril of Mason’s rampage. Rex Dunbar represents the failed attempt to immediately stop the threat.

The neighbor who catches Mason in the act and becomes another victim of Mason’s violence. His discovery of Marie’s body in the backyard and his death illustrate the collateral danger surrounding the crime. Billy’s presence accelerates the tension and the moral weight of the neighborhood’s involvement.