Film Planning - Characters

Holly, 17 - main character and protagonist - We considered naming her Rose because of the fact that roses have thorns but the name gives the connotation of romance, which isn't what we want, so we named her Holly, another plant that's known for having sharp spikes. She is an 'average girl' who has a good family, good friends and good grades. She also has an interest in the supernatural, which is sown at the beginning of the movie when she tries to summon a spirit using a badly-drawn pentagram. Although it isn't mentioned in much detail in the film, she is asexual, which Michael doesn't realise when he fears she might leave him. She doesn't really like Michael due to that fact that she's been forced to be with him for years and wants him to leave her alone as he is too clingy.

Michael, 17 - antagonist - We wanted Michael to have an average name that goes with the fact that he'll be seen as just a side character until the fact that he's the bad guy is revealed. Throughout the film, the audience won't pay much attention to him as he will be portrayed as just a quiet and meek background character. People don't know what he does outside of school, but he is very smart so they assume he spends his time studying. When his childhood is revealed through flashbacks, the audience sees that Holly has been his only friend for as long as he can remember - like a sister to him - and he doesn't like how she's getting more friends and 'leaving him behind'. When he realises that Holly is starting to piece together what's behind her friends getting injured, he hurts himself and lies in a ditch (where Holly finds him) - but him injuring himself is not shown until later so that the audience and Holly rule him out as a suspect.

Amy, 17 - Holly's best friend - Holly trusts Amy a lot as she is the first person she tells about her problems and also one of the people Holly refuses to talk to when she believes that she is cursed - thinking that the 'curse' causes bad things to happen to those she is close to. She met Holly in their first year of secondary school and was the first 'best friend' she's had since Michael. Although she acts friendly to him, she doesn't like Michael due to the fact that he's always trying to take Holly away from her. She is found dead in a field and the cause of her death is unknown as there is no sign of injury - although it is later revealed that she has ingested poison.

Natalie, 17 - another friend of Holly's and one of Michael's first victims - Natalie is who Holly got her interest in spirits from, as she is fascinated with the subject. She has only recently became friends with Holly but they became close friends very quickly - which annoys Michael a lot. Michael kidnaps Natalie to keep her away from Holly, but takes his methods of keeping her quiet too far and almost kills her. Holly finds Natalie in Michael's house after an urgent message from her, which is how she finds out Michael is behind the bad things happening.

Sarah, 42 - Holly's mum - Sarah is close friends with Michael's mother and wants Holly to be friends with him. Although she has a good relationship with her daughter, Holly doesn't go to her for help when she fears she is cursed, and instead talk to her friends.