The Burrowers

A hardened frontiersman who accompanies the expedition. He is skeptical of the military’s methods and becomes a stabilizing yet weary voice as trust erodes. Clay embodies rural grit and a fragile leadership tested by mutating threats and escalating violence.

An Irish immigrant and John Clay’s assistant, protective of Maryanne and driven by a personal thirst for answers after her disappearance. His loyalty clashes with the harsh realities of the expedition, pushing him toward dangerous conclusions about the Burrowers and their attackers. He becomes instrumental in pursuing a cure for the toxin and enacting revenge.

The military-backed leader whose distrust of Native tribes fuels brutal decisions. He tortures a captured Sioux to extract information and ultimately treats Faith and the Ute with contempt, exposing the corruptive potential of unchecked power on the frontier.

A former soldier whose bravado wavers under threat. He is paralyzed during a Burrower attack and is later eaten alive, symbolizing the peril that befalls those who underestimate the dangers of the untamed land.

The Stewart family daughter who embodies the stakes of the expedition. Her disappearance triggers the pursuit, and her eventual fate drives Coffey's pursuit of truth and revenge.

A Native woman whose family was killed by the Burrowers. She provides crucial knowledge about the creatures and their toxin, and she seeks aid from the Ute to combat the threat. Faith’s presence highlights the complexity of frontier alliances and the cost of violence.

A former slave and Victor’s chef who accompanies the party with a calm toughness. He sustains injuries during the journey and dies following amputation, symbolizing sacrifice and the human toll of frontier conflict.

The teenage member of Will Parcher’s group who is paralyzed and ultimately eaten by the Burrowers. His fate underscores the relentless danger lurking beneath the surface of the frontier.

A member of the Ute people encountered by the group who helps explain how to combat the Burrowers. His presence symbolizes potential alliance amid conflict and tragedy.

A quick, wary Ute who interacts with Coffey and the others, representing a more cautious approach to aid from Native groups amid hostilities.

A Ute figure connected to Faith's world, contributing to the understanding of Burrower weakness and the cultural knowledge used to counter their toxin.