The Thing About Harry (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in Chicago, Illinois, with scenes unfolding along a road trip to Sam's Missouri hometown. Chicago serves as the main backdrop, featuring key moments at local bars and the Pride celebration.

• chicago setting
• missouri hometown
• road trip
• lgbtq+ romance setting

Chicago functions as more than just a location, it acts as a vibrant backdrop for romance, confrontation, and self-discovery. The city amplifies both conflict and connection, with the Pride celebration and local bars anchoring critical emotional turning points throughout the road trip.

• chicago pride
• urban setting
• nightlife
• emotional turning points

Sam Baselli is one of the film's two main characters, portrayed by Jake Borelli. He is a thoughtful, loyal friend who grapples with desire, loyalty, and self-discovery. Sam begins with reluctance to date friends but eventually confronts his long-standing longing for Harry, driving much of the romance's emotional tension.

• sam baselli
• main character
• Jake Borelli
• self-discovery

Harry Turpin, played by Niko Terho, is the other main character and Sam's former high school rival. He is charismatic, candid, and unapologetically open about his pansexuality. Harry unsettles Sam's assumptions while remaining true to his own desires, and his evolving relationship with Sam tests both restraint and commitment.

• harry turpin
• Niko Terho
• pansexuality
• romantic lead

Stasia Hooper, portrayed by Britt Baron, is Sam's close friend who acts as a catalyst for his choices. She is pragmatic, warm, and helps orchestrate the engagement party that brings Sam and Harry together. Her honesty pushes Sam toward possibility and helps him see potential futures beyond old tensions.

• stasia hooper
• Britt Baron
• best friend
• catalyst

Paul, played by Karamo Brown, is Sam's boyfriend during part of the story. He represents stability and serves as a testing ground for Sam's evolving desires. Their eventual breakup occurs as Sam and Harry's bond deepens, illustrating the challenges of moving on while staying true to oneself.

• paul
• Karamo Brown
• boyfriend
• relationship conflict

The film explores three core themes: Identity, focusing on Sam's evolving understanding of his sexuality and desires; Commitment, testing what it means to choose between friendship and romance; and Growth, showing how characters confront past grievances and reassess their desires to map new paths forward.

• themes
• identity
• commitment
• growth
• lgbtq+ themes

The identity theme centers on Sam's evolving understanding of his sexuality and desires, peeling back layers of past trauma and social expectations. The revelation of pansexuality and openness to non-traditional relationship paths push Sam to question what he truly wants from love and loyalty.

• pansexuality
• sexuality
• self-acceptance
• identity journey

The commitment theme tests what dedication means when choosing between a longtime friendship and a romantic future with the same person. Sam and Harry navigate hesitation, compatibility, and the promise of staying true to one another, with their eventual marriage signaling that commitment can be patient, forgiving, and enduring.

• commitment
• marriage
• loyalty
• forgiveness
• lasting love

The growth theme depicts characters confronting past grievances and reassessing their desires through dating experiments and honest conversations. Sam's journey from uncertainty to a defined partnership with Harry highlights personal evolution, presenting growth as a gradual uncovering of what truly matters in love and life.

• personal growth
• evolution
• self-discovery
• character development

Casey, played by Peter Paige, is Sam's roommate who provides pragmatic support and humor throughout the story. She champions self-happiness and urges Sam to pursue what he really wants, anchoring him during moments of doubt as he tests different romantic paths.

• casey
• Peter Paige
• roommate
• advice
• support system

Zack, played by Japhet Balaban, is Stasia's fiancé whose presence underscores the complexity of long-term commitments. He appears at pivotal moments, highlighting the entanglements of past loyalties and future promises, and his interactions help reveal Sam and Harry's evolving dynamic.

• zack
• fiancé
• engagement
• commitment complexity