Curfew

A teenage girl trying to respect a strict 10:00 p.m. curfew, Stephanie proves remarkably resourceful and brave under pressure. She navigates fear, uses wit to manipulate the assailants, and ultimately shifts the balance of power in the house. Her determination to protect her family drives the plot's suspense and its grim resolution.

The father and target of the killers' revenge, Walter is a protective presence who endures torture and tries to shield his family. His willingness to confront danger embodies a duty-bound, principled figure within a crisis.

Stephanie’s mother, subjected to humiliation and intimidation during the break-in. Megan is shown as a caring, frightened, yet resilient figure who endures an ordeal to keep her family together.

The older of the two escaped prisoners, Ray is violent and controlling, driving the torment with a sadistic streak. He embodies direct physical threat and personal vengeance against the district attorney.

Ray’s younger brother, more impressionable and dangerous in his own way. He is swayed by his brother’s motives and becomes a force in the home invasion alongside Ray.

A young police officer who escorts Stephanie to safety and attempts to intervene, though he is ultimately unable to prevent the intruders’ rampage. His presence highlights the limits of authority in the face of brutal violence.

The babysitter hired to watch Stephanie, she becomes a casualty of the night’s violence, illustrating the fragility of trust and routine.

Stephanie’s drunken boyfriend who arrives with friends and becomes part of the night’s peril, meeting a violent end at the hands of Ray.

John’s friend who participates in the night’s events and shares in the danger, meeting a similar tragic fate as others inside the house.

A target of the invaders’ violence; his murder with his wife underscores the personal reach of the criminals’ revenge.

A neighbor figure within the story’s social circle who is referenced in the surrounding cast of residents; her inclusion highlights the broader community impact of the events.

A figure connected to the town’s professional life who appears in the surrounding cast; his presence helps to situate the story within a typical community setting.

A secretary who represents the local administrative backdrop against which the personal horror unfolds.