The Red House

Ellen is Pete's wife and Meg's adoptive mother, quietly complicit in a hidden family secret. She embodies restraint and loyalty, yet her proximity to Pete's grip makes her complicit in the tensions that erupt from the past. Her attempt to burn the red house marks a desperate bid to sever the memory that haunts them.

Pete is a handicapped yet formidable farmer whose obsession with Jeannie fuels control over his household. His secret confession reveals a history of violence that he tries to keep buried, though the past inevitably ripples outward and destroys the family he tries to shield. His unraveling culminates in a fatal fixation on stopping any challenge to his domain.

Meg is a curious and stubborn teenager who seeks truth beyond her family's walls. Her bond with Nath grows into a genuine romance that threatens Pete's authority, pushing her to defy warnings and confront the dangerous secrets of the red house. Her resilience and determination drive much of the film’s emotional arc.

Nath is Meg's classmate and romantic interest who is brave yet reckless, drawn into the danger of the woods and the red house. His loyalty to Meg motivates him to take risks, and his pursuit of the truth challenges Pete's authority. He embodies youthful courage amid a looming family crisis.

Teller is a volatile local handyman who secures hunting rights on Pete's land and becomes a catalyst for conflict. His opportunistic and violent nature clashes with Meg and Nath, escalating the danger surrounding the red house and the town's suspicions.

Tibby is Nath's girlfriend who embodies vanity and manipulation; she flaunts flirtations with Teller and uses others to further her own aims. Her scheming attitude reveals a selfish side that amplifies conflict and distrust within the social circle.

The local doctor who tends to the wounded and the community's sense of order. His role frames the medical and moral aftermath of the town’s escalating crisis.

The authority figure who helps bring law and order as the secrets and violence come to a head. He represents the external force that confronts the hidden violence within the Morgans.

Nath's mother, a community member who contends with the town’s gossip and her own desires for stability as she navigates the unfolding drama.

A local figure tied to the social fabric of the town; appears in an uncredited capacity, contributing to the atmosphere of small-town undercurrents and tension.