Character Relationship Map: The 'Burbs

Characters

• Ray Peterson (played by Tom Hanks) — protagonist

  Ray Peterson is a suburban homeowner on vacation whose suspicions about his reclusive neighbors drive the story. He joins Art, Mark, and Ricky in investigating strange activity, breaks into the neighb...

• Art Weingartner (played by Rick Ducommun) — supporting

  Art Weingartner is Ray's nosy neighbor and an enthusiastic partner in suspecting the Klopeks. He theorizes about Walter, searches the garbage truck, snoops around the Klopeks' yard, breaks into their...

• Ricky's Friend (played by Bill Stevenson) — minor
• Ricky's Friend (played by Gary Hays) — minor
• Ricky Butler (played by Corey Feldman) — supporting

  Ricky Butler is a neighborhood teenager who joins Ray, Art, and Mark in watching the Klopeks and investigating their suspicious behavior. He later discovers skeletal remains in the Klopeks' car trunk...

• Dr. Werner Klopek (played by Henry Gibson) — supporting

  Dr. Werner Klopek is a member of the Klopek household who initially appears during the neighbors' welcome visit. After Ray's investigation causes the house to explode, Werner reveals the family's murd...

• Walter Seznick (played by Gale Gordon) — supporting

  Walter Seznick is the elderly neighbor whose disappearance intensifies the investigation. Ray and the others find his overturned house and missing toupée, leading them to suspect the Klopeks. Walter l...

• Walter's Daughter (played by Brenda Benner) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Walter's Daughter → Walter Seznick (daughter)

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Dr. Werner Klopek → Ricky Butler (Conflict Investigative Opponent) — Ricky's discovery exposes evidence against Werner and his household.

  Ricky uncovers human skeletal remains in the Klopek car trunk, contributing to the Klopeks' arrest.

• Dr. Werner Klopek → Art Weingartner (Conflict Property Opponent) — Art's investigation directly violates Werner's property and interests.

  Art enters the Klopek backyard and basement while searching for evidence, and the Klopeks return after discovering that their basement lights are on.

• Ray Peterson → Dr. Werner Klopek (Conflict Adversaries) — Ray's suspicion develops into a direct physical conflict with Werner.

  Ray investigates Werner's household, breaks into its basement, and later struggles with Werner after Werner attempts to lethally inject him.

• Ray Peterson → Ricky Butler (Alliance Neighborhood Ally) — Ricky supports Ray's investigation and contributes decisive evidence.

  Ricky participates in observing the Klopeks and later uncovers skeletal remains in their car trunk, helping confirm Ray's suspicions.

• Ray Peterson → Art Weingartner (Alliance Investigative Partner) — Their shared suspicions make them the main investigative partners among the neighbors.

  Ray and Art repeatedly investigate the Klopeks together, including searching the garbage truck, theorizing about Walter, and entering the Klopek prope...

• Art Weingartner → Ricky Butler (Alliance Investigation Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the same amateur investigative group.

  Art and Ricky are part of the neighborhood group that investigates the missing neighbor and the suspicious Klopeks.

• Ricky's Friend → Ricky Butler (friend)
• Ricky's Friend → Ricky Butler (friend)

Story Analysis

A suburban investigation turns paranoia into dangerous truth when suspected neighbors are revealed to be murderers.

Plot Progression

1. Suspicion Takes Root — Ray hears strange basement noises and joins the neighbors in suspecting the secluded household. Strange garbage, nighttime digging, and an empty garbage search intensify the paranoia.
2. The Missing Neighbor — The group investigates an apparently abandoned house and finds signs suggesting violence. A toupée, suspicious surveillance, and a human femur make the murder theory seem credible.
3. The Forbidden Basement — A welcome visit fails to calm the investigation, and the neighbors continue searching the Klopek property. The basement appears to contain a crematorium, leading to a reckless break-in and an explosio...
4. Truth Inside The Ambulance — Ray briefly admits that the neighbors may have become irrational, but Werner reveals the Klopeks' murders. Werner then attacks Ray during an ambulance ride.
5. Proof And Departure — Ray arrests Werner, while Ricky discovers skeletal evidence in the Klopek car. The arrests resolve the mystery, and Ray prepares to leave the neighborhood.