Population 436

Population 436

Year: 2006

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Michelle MacLaren

HorrorThrillerHorror

In the isolated town of Rockwell Falls, every resident seems desperate for an outsider’s attention. When a government census‑taker arrives, he discovers the baffling fact that the town’s population has remained exactly 436 for a full century. He must uncover the strange cause behind this static number and the eerie behavior of its inhabitants.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Population 436 (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Population 436 (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Rockwell Falls, North Dakota

Rockwell Falls is a remote village in North Dakota where the population has stubbornly remained at 436 for over a century. The town is tightly knit and quiet, but an eerie mood hints at a hidden purpose behind its sanctuary. Outsiders are kept at bay by ritual rules and fear, giving the place a guarded, almost sacred aura.

🗺️ Remote town 🔒 Secretive community 🌀 Mystery atmosphere

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:24

Main Characters – Population 436 (2006)

Meet the key characters of Population 436 (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Steve Kady (Jeremy Sisto)

A US Census Bureau enumerator who arrives as an outsider with a rational mind. He matches the town's quiet menace with curiosity, gradually uncovering the pattern behind Rockwell Falls' population cap.

🧭 Outsider 🔍 Investigator

Deputy Caine (Fred Durst)

The town’s loyal deputy who helps Kady navigate Rockwell Falls. He embodies the community’s guarded stance toward outsiders and provides practical, steady support to those who stay within its borders.

🛡️ Authority 🧭 Loyalty

Courtney Lovett (Charlotte Sullivan)

Daughter of the host family who longs to depart the town. Her desire to leave clashes with the fear-driven rules that keep the population static, making her a symbol of hope and risk.

💞 Love 🗺️ Rebellion

Amanda (Reva Timbers)

A young girl kept at the clinic under the pretense of schizophrenia, protected by the town’s medical authorities. Her wish to escape mirrors Courtney's, and she becomes a central ally in the escape plan.

🏥 Vulnerable 🧩 Ally

Ronald Greaver (David Fox)

Town physician who uses electroshock therapy to suppress departures, illustrating how medical power is deployed to enforce conformity.

🧪 Medical abuse ⚖️ Power

Sheriff Calcutt (R.H. Thomson)

Senior lawman and quiet custodian of Rockwell Falls' century-old secret. He maintains order and oversees the consequences when outsiders threaten the town.

🛡️ Authority 🗝️ Keeper

Frank Ramsey (Anthony Christian Potenza)

A co-worker who arrives looking for Kady, representing an external connection to the protagonist’s world and the potential consequences of the town's secret reaching beyond its borders.

👔 Co-worker 🕯️ Consequences

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:24

Major Themes – Population 436 (2006)

Explore the central themes of Population 436 (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔒 Control

Rockwell Falls maintains its secret by strict social rules that punish anyone who tries to leave. The community enforces conformity through fear, rumor, and selective medical or legal actions, making outsiders an existential threat. The repeated insistence that the town's fate rests with a higher power underscores how control is justified.

🔢 Numerology

A century-long fixation on the number 436 drives decisions and rituals. The residents interpret this figure as a divine safeguard, using dreams and symbolic cues to reinforce the boundary between inside and outside. This numerology shapes behavior and cements the town's guarded identity.

🧭 Escape and Sacrifice

The protagonist's attempt to escape triggers a chain of deadly consequences for those who seek freedom. The plan relies on deception and fire to divert attention, but it culminates in tragedy as key figures die and the town's secret remains intact. The ending reinforces the price of leaving and the town's unwavering resolve to protect its sanctuary.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:24

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about sinister small towns like Population 436

Stories about outsiders trapped by the sinister rules of an isolated community.If you enjoyed the oppressive atmosphere of Population 436, you'll find similar stories here. This list features movies like Population 436 where an isolated town or community harbors a dark secret, creating a claustrophobic thriller about forced conformity and desperate escape attempts.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow an investigative protagonist—a visitor, newcomer, or returned native—who slowly uncovers the unsettling rules or rituals that govern a closed community. The central conflict pits the individual's desire for truth and freedom against the collective's need to maintain its twisted status quo, often leading to a desperate struggle for survival.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core setup: a confined setting with a malevolent social structure. They are united by themes of psychological control, the horror of mob mentality, and the visceral fear of being trapped. The shared mood is one of pervasive dread and unsettling discovery.

Bleak horror thrillers with hopeless endings like Population 436

Unnerving stories where hope is systematically extinguished by an inescapable fate.For viewers who appreciated the grim fate in Population 436, this section curates similar movies with bleak endings. These films share a tone of inevitable tragedy, where characters are crushed by forces beyond their control, resulting in a powerfully heavy and unsettling experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is one of futile resistance. A character becomes aware of a terrifying truth or system and fights against it, but each step forward only tightens the trap. The story arc is less about overcoming evil and more about the chilling realization of its absolute dominance, culminating in a defeat that feels fated from the start.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared emotional journey and conclusion. They prioritize a consistent tone of despair and a pacing that builds tension without relief. The similarity lies in the gut-punch of an ending that confirms the worst fears, leaving a lasting impression of powerlessness and dread.

Unlock the Full Story of Population 436

Don't stop at just watching — explore Population 436 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Population 436 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Population 436 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Population 436, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Population 436 Summary

Population 436 Timeline

Track the full timeline of Population 436 with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Population 436 Timeline

Population 436 Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Population 436 that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Population 436 Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Population 436

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Population 436: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Population 436

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