Wounds (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set in New Orleans, Louisiana. The primary location is a deteriorating bar in the city, which serves as a crucial element in establishing the atmosphere of decay and urban decay that permeates the narrative.

• new orleans
• setting
• bar location
• city setting

The story takes place in contemporary, modern-day America. References to smartphones, college students, and current social dynamics place it squarely in the present era, reflecting today's technological landscape and societal anxieties.

• contemporary
• modern day
• time period
• present era

The bar where Will works is depicted as a gritty, deteriorating establishment filled with cockroaches. This setting symbolizes decay and chaos, reflecting the character's internal unraveling and serving as a microcosm for the urban struggles and darkness that consume the protagonist.

• bar
• decaying setting
• new orleans bar
• atmosphere

The film explores three interconnected themes: supernatural horror, where malevolent forces invade the protagonist's mind; relationship strain, showing how emotional bonds fracture under external pressures; and technology's impact, examining how a mysterious phone serves as a gateway to dark, otherworldly terrors.

• supernatural horror
• themes
• relationship strain
• technology
• horror themes

Will is the protagonist, a bartender in New Orleans whose life unravels after encountering a mysterious discarded phone. He represents the Everyman pulled into supernatural horror, embodying the theme of psychological breakdown as he transitions from a troubled but functioning individual to someone consumed by paranoia and terrifying visions.

• will
• bartender
• protagonist
• main character

Carrie is Will's girlfriend, a college student who becomes increasingly entangled in the unfolding chaos. Her character demonstrates both concern and confusion as Will's behavior grows erratic, while her own obsessive interest in another character (Garrett) creates additional strain in their relationship, highlighting the theme of emotional betrayal.

• carrie
• girlfriend
• will's partner
• college student

Garrett is a mysterious figure whose dark messages and unnerving secrets draw Will deeper into the supernatural horror. He serves as the central link between the otherworldly forces and Will's plight, acting as a catalyst whose true connection to the malevolent entities drives much of the narrative's terror.

• garrett
• mysterious figure
• antagonist
• supernatural connection

The mysterious phone left behind at the bar serves as a gateway to horror, representing technology's darker side. It illustrates contemporary anxieties about digital connectivity and the unknown dangers lurking behind screens, showing how modern technology can become a vector for supernatural evil.

• phone
• technology
• supernatural phone
• horror device
• digital communication

Alicia is Will's friend who becomes inadvertently drawn into the sinister events. She experiences feelings of guilt and emotional connection toward Will, but her own internal turmoil creates a rift in their relationship. Her character embodies the broader theme of how external horrors impact personal connections and individual psychological states.

• alicia
• friend character
• support character

New Orleans contributes a layer of atmospheric dread through its reputation for mystery and supernatural folklore. The city's vibrant nightlife, historic architecture, and undercurrent of darkness provide an ideal backdrop for a horror narrative, while the contrast between the lively cultural scene and the decaying bar emphasizes the theme of decay and hidden corruption.

• new orleans atmosphere
• city atmosphere
• horror setting
• southern gothic

Eric is a fellow patron at the bar who becomes a vessel for supernatural occurrences after suffering a serious injury. His infected wound manifests in horrifying ways that connect to the eldritch forces at play, serving as a pivotal narrative device that reveals deeper connections to the dark entities haunting Will.

• eric
• bar patron
• supernatural vessel
• infected wound

The film maintains a consistently dark, oppressive tone driven by escalating supernatural and psychological terrors. With no moments of humor or relief, the narrative creates a purely stressful viewing experience centered on paranoia, relationship breakdown, and visceral body horror, resulting in a bleak and unresolved conclusion.

• tone
• atmosphere
• horror genre
• dark film
• psychological horror