Character Relationship Map: Beneath

Characters

• Johnny (played by Daniel Zovatto) — protagonist

  A high school senior who visits a secluded lake with friends. After meeting a local who warns him about the lake, he survives an encounter with a giant fish. He later attempts to rescue the group but...

• Kitty (played by Bonnie Dennison) — protagonist

  Matt's girlfriend and one of the surviving teenagers. She argues with the group about the lake's dangers and is thrown into the water by Matt. She survives by taking a protective necklace from Johnny'...

• Simon (played by Jonny Orsini) — supporting

  Matt's younger brother who falls into the lake during a fight with his sibling. After surviving the attack, he becomes psychologically broken, drowns Kitty on the shore, and is ultimately shot at by M...

• Zeke (played by Griffin Newman) — supporting

  A high school senior who attempts to rally the group against Johnny and makes inflammatory accusations about Kitty. He is thrown into the lake by Matt and brutally eaten by the giant fish while record...

• Mr. Parks (played by Mark Margolis) — supporting

  An older local and friend of Johnny's grandfather who warns the teenagers about the lake's dangers. He later confronts the traumatized Simon, reveals he possesses evidence of the attack, and forces Si...

• Deb (played by Mackenzie Rosman) — supporting

  Kitty's friend who becomes the first victim when a giant fish bites her while she attempts to retrieve a lost oar. Her death marks the beginning of the group's deadly ordeal on the lake.

• Matt (played by Chris Conroy) — minor

  Kitty's boyfriend and Simon's older brother. He reacts violently to the escalating tensions, throwing both Zeke and Kitty into the lake. He is ultimately kicked by Simon into the water and devoured by...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Kitty → Matt (Romantic Boyfriend) — Kitty and Matt begin as a couple, but fear and accusation destroy their relationship.

  The group is identified as including Kitty and her boyfriend Matt.

• Matt → Simon (Family Brothers) — The brothers turn violently against each other under pressure on the lake.

  Simon is explicitly identified as Matt's brother.

Story Dynamics

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

• Matt → Johnny (Alliance Rescue Partners) — Johnny's rescue effort is directed toward Matt and the other stranded teenagers.

  Johnny attempts to rescue the stranded group, which includes Matt, by using a motor boat and tow rope.

• Johnny → Simon (Social Group Members) — They share the doomed group situation, although the plot provides little direct personal interaction.

  Johnny and Simon travel with the same group of high school seniors on the lake.

• Simon → Mr. Parks (Conflict Pursuer And Prey) — Mr. Parks seeks accountability from Simon after learning what happened.

  Mr. Parks confronts Simon, shows that he has a gun and Zeke's GoPro, and forces Simon back into the water.

• Kitty → Simon (Conflict Victim And Killer) — Their final encounter ends with Simon killing Kitty after his psychological collapse.

  Simon confronts Kitty on the shore and drowns her despite her pleas.

• Zeke → Kitty (Conflict Accuser) — Zeke's accusation intensifies the group's mistrust and triggers Matt's attack.

  Zeke accuses Kitty of sleeping with both brothers before Matt throws him overboard.

• Matt → Zeke (Conflict Enemy) — Matt responds to Zeke's accusations with direct violence.

  Matt throws Zeke overboard after Zeke makes accusations about Kitty.

• Johnny → Zeke (Conflict Adversaries) — Zeke turns the group against Johnny during the crisis.

  Zeke attempts to persuade the group to throw Johnny overboard.

• Johnny → Kitty (Alliance Protective Acquaintances) — Johnny attempts to protect Kitty, and his necklace later becomes central to her escape attempt.

  Johnny tries to give Kitty a necklace for protection, and Kitty later takes the necklace from his corpse.

• Kitty → Deb (Social Friend) — Their friendship connects Deb to the central group before Deb becomes the first victim.

  Deb is introduced as Kitty's friend and travels with the group.

• Johnny → Mr. Parks (Social Mentor) — Mr. Parks acts as a knowledgeable older acquaintance who tries to protect Johnny.

  Mr. Parks is a friend of Johnny's grandfather and warns Johnny to be careful in the lake.

Story Analysis

A group of teenagers becomes trapped on a lake where fear, suspicion, and violence destroy their bonds before the final survivors are claimed.

Plot Progression

1. Warnings Before the Water Turns — Six seniors arrive at a secluded lake while Mr. Parks warns Johnny about its danger. The group ignores caution and begins disturbing the water.
2. The First Bloodshed — An unknown presence touches the teenagers, and their attempt to row back fails. Deb is bitten while retrieving an oar, beginning the group's deadly ordeal.
3. Trust Collapses Afloat — The survivors lose their remaining oar and use Deb's body as a failed distraction. Suspicion turns toward Johnny as Zeke encourages the group to sacrifice him.
4. Violence Among Survivors — Johnny attempts to rescue the stranded teenagers but dies when the tow rope wraps around his neck. Matt, Kitty, and Simon then turn against one another as survival becomes personal violence.
5. Blood at the Shore — Kitty uses Johnny's necklace to reach shore, but Simon drowns her after his psychological collapse. Mr. Parks confronts Simon and forces him back into the lake, where the final attack occurs.