Unhuman (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Unhuman takes place primarily at Evanston Hill High School and the surrounding area. After a field trip goes wrong, the surviving students find themselves in a nearby forest and an abandoned structure within the woods, which serves as a tense refuge as they face the threatening creatures.

• setting
• locations
• forest
• school
• abandoned building

Unhuman is set in the present day, reflecting contemporary issues faced by teenagers. The setting incorporates modern elements like high school field trips and current social dynamics among youth.

• time period
• present day
• modern setting

The film explores three core themes: survival, as students must band together against deadly threats; betrayal, which tests friendships and reveals hidden motives; and redemption, as characters confront their past behaviors and grow through adversity.

• themes
• survival
• betrayal
• redemption

The survival theme centers on how the students must overcome both the external threat of mutated creatures and their own internal fears. The terrifying circumstances force them to confront their weaknesses and find strength in unity amid chaos.

• survival theme
• unity
• fear
• overcoming weaknesses

Betrayal emerges as friendships are tested when Steven's hidden motives are revealed, shattering Ever's trust in her friends. This betrayal complicates the group dynamics and adds psychological complexity to the already dangerous situation.

• betrayal
• Steven
• trust
• friendships

Redemption in Unhuman appears through characters like Ever and Tamra, who grapple with their identities and past behaviors. Former bullies and outcasts experience growth as they confront who they were, leading to newfound camaraderie and understanding among the survivors.

• redemption
• character growth
• change
• understanding

The main characters include Ever, a shy self-doubting girl who evolves into a resilient fighter; her best friend Tamra; Chip, a revenge-driven student transformed into a terrifying figure; Randall, a complex schemer seeking power; and Steven, whose secretive nature leads to betrayal.

• main characters
• Ever
• Tamra
• Chip
• Randall
• Steven

Ever is the film's protagonist, portrayed as a shy and self-doubting girl who struggles with low self-esteem. Throughout the chaos, she transforms from vulnerability to resilience, finding the courage to fight back against the threats confronting her group.

• Ever
• protagonist
• shy
• self-doubt
• resilience

Chip is a revenge-driven burnout who becomes a horrific figure embodying the students' fears. Despite his terrifying appearance, he represents the emotional scars from bullying, serving as both a threat and a catalyst for the other characters' development.

• Chip
• bullying
• revenge
• transformed character

Randall is a complex character who straddles the line between outcast and schemer. His desire for power and validation leads him to create a disturbing plan that endangers his peers, ultimately catalyzing many of the film's conflicts through betrayal and manipulation.

• Randall
• schemer
• power
• betrayal
• manipulation

The forest in Unhuman serves as a dangerous, isolating environment where the students face the mutated creatures. An abandoned structure within the woods provides temporary refuge, amplifying the tension and sense of secrecy surrounding the chaos unfolding around them.

• forest
• abandoned building
• isolation
• danger