Panic in Year Zero!

A pragmatic, impulsive patriarch who prioritizes his family’s safety over formal rules. He drives the group toward the mountains and is willing to use force to secure supplies, revealing a willingness to break laws in the name of survival. His actions create moral tension as he navigates danger and authority in a collapsed world.

A caring and cautious mother who strives to keep her family together and hopeful. She adapts to rapidly changing circumstances, forming bonds with others (including Marilyn) and providing emotional steadiness amid chaos. Her resilience anchors the family’s sense of humanity.

The teenage son who shows resourcefulness and courage under pressure. He assists his father, endures injury, and contributes to decisions about how to survive in a fractured world. His loyalty to family and peers underscores the film’s focus on young resilience.

The daughter who endures trauma at the hands of hoodlums, illustrating the personal cost of societal collapse. She faces fear and confusion but also demonstrates endurance as part of the family’s broader struggle to rebuild safety and trust.

A teenage girl who is rescued from captivity and gradually integrated into the Baldwin clan. Her presence adds emotional depth and helps soften the harshness of their ordeal, showing how trust and kinship can form in crisis.

A hardware store owner who initially adheres to law and order, refusing to sell weapons without verification. He and his wife are murdered by the hoodlums, underscoring the vulnerability of ordinary civilians in a lawless landscape.

A local doctor who becomes a beacon of medical help when the group reaches an Army hospital distance away. His presence signals the fragile thread of organized care that remains in a world unraveling at the edges.

One of three violent hoodlums who terrorize the Baldwins, including raping Karen and threatening others. He is ultimately killed by Marilyn, illustrating how acts of violence are answered within the group’s fragile moral economy.

A member of the hoodlum trio who participates in intimidation and crime. His actions reflect the dangers that come with the collapse of social norms and the ease with which violence becomes a constant companion.

Another hoodlum in the trio, whose reckless behavior contributes to the threats faced by the Baldwins. His presence reinforces the film’s exploration of lawlessness and the erosion of safety.