Proxy

Esther is a heavily pregnant woman who uses attention and manipulation to control those around her. After the stillbirth, she navigates grief by orchestrating situations that keep her at the center of others’ lives, even when it harms them. Her relationship with Anika and her interactions with Melanie reveal a chilling blend of vulnerability and calculation. Esther’s actions culminate in violent choices that devastate those she seeks to dominate.

Melanie presents herself as a grieving wife and mother who claims her family was taken by a drunk driver. She befriends Esther and fuels the web of lies surrounding Peyton, eventually revealing the fragility of her own truth. As the story unfolds, Melanie’s grief and fear drive a dangerous mix of deception and vulnerability. Her later discovery of deceit between the adults tests her endurance and sense of justice.

Peyton is the infant whose existence and disappearance act as a catalyst for the plot. His brief presence intensifies the adults’ manipulations and becomes a focal point for claims, fear, and revenge. The character embodies innocence amid a surrounding storm of deceit and violence. His fate drives the narrative’s emotional and moral stakes.

Anika is Esther's lover who accelerates the film’s violence at Esther's request. Jealousy and passion fuel her actions, and she oscillates between complicity and rage as the truth about Peyton and Melanie unfolds. Her presence intensifies the danger, making her a pivotal instigator in the couple’s tragic arc. Anika’s eventual trajectory hinges on pursuit and revenge.

Patrick emerges as Melanie's husband who becomes entangled in the web of manipulation and suspicion. He confronts inconsistencies about Peyton's fate and ultimately erupts in violence, killing Esther with a shotgun. He remains alive after the initial confrontation and continues to grapple with the trauma, deceit, and the evolving truth of the Michaels family.