The Passion of Darkly Noon

Darkly is a young man raised in an ultraconservative Christian cult, whose life has been tightly controlled by doctrine. Disoriented after the cult dissolves and his parents die, he struggles to reconcile faith with desire and companionship. His detachment teeters on fragility, until fear and loneliness push him toward violence.

Callie nurses Darkly back to health and becomes a compassionate anchor in his fragile world. Her relationship with Clay complicates her loyalty, and she is drawn to Darkly’s vulnerability even as it unsettles the community's norms. She embodies tenderness and moral ambiguity as she navigates love, duty, and danger.

Clay is Callie's mute boyfriend who crafts coffins, merging artistry with practicality. His return disrupts Darkly's fragile equilibrium, heightening jealousy and fear. He moves through the film with quiet strength, ultimately linked to the survival of his family unit.

Roxy is Clay's protective but hostile mother who distrusts Callie and accuses her of witchcraft. Her stern, possessive stance reveals the clashing loyalties of a family bound by fear. Loneliness drives her to a bitter choice that shapes the movie's tragedy.

Jude is a coffin transporter who rescues Darkly and becomes his friend. He offers a practical, down-to-earth counterweight to the cultish world Darkly leaves behind. Though well-meaning, he ultimately departs, creating a sense of impending loss.