What’s the Matter with Helen?

A devoted mother whose son’s crime and mounting paranoia unleash a downward spiral. She experiences intense fear, visualizes her dead husband, and becomes capable of violent acts under pressure. Her deteriorating mental state culminates in a shocking act that binds the women’s fates together in tragedy.

A pragmatic partner who teams with Helen to escape Iowa and start anew in Hollywood. She becomes involved with Lincoln and tries to balance ambition with self-preservation. Her practicality and affection for Helen clash with the latter’s instability, leading to a deadly confrontation.

An enigmatic elocution teacher whose suave presence unsettles Helen. He embodies the seductive lure of the entertainment world and the danger of influence without accountability. His presence foreshadows the psychological grip that performance rituals can exert on real life.

A patient father figure to Adelle’s student who becomes a romantic interest for Adelle. He inadvertently becomes a focal point of Helen’s jealousy, illustrating how rivalries for affection can drive actions beyond reason. His role exposes the fragility of relationships under strain.

A radio evangelist whose sermons offer moral guidance and forgiveness. She provides spiritual comfort that contrasts with the psychological turmoil surrounding the protagonists. Her presence highlights the tension between faith and personal accountability.

A menacing intruder who embodies external danger stalking the mothers. His unpredictable presence heightens the sense of threat and accelerates the film’s atmosphere of fear. He functions as a catalyst for the protagonists’ actions under duress.