Character Relationship Map: Mile Zero

Characters

• Derek (played by Michael Riley) — protagonist

  Derek is a divorced father whose contact with his son is being limited by his ex-wife. He abducts Will, making his conflict with Allison the central situation of the film. The story presents his actio...

• Will (played by Connor Widdows) — protagonist

  Will is Derek and Allison's son. After Allison tries to limit Derek's contact with him, Derek abducts him, placing Will at the center of the conflict between his divorced parents. The available plot s...

• Allison (played by Sabrina Grdevich) — supporting

  Allison is Derek's ex-wife and the mother of Will. She tries to limit Derek's contact with their son, setting the conflict in motion when Derek abducts Will. The available plot summary establishes her...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Allison → Will (Family Mother) — Allison is part of Will's immediate parental family.

  Allison is identified as Derek's ex-wife, while Will is identified as Derek's son; the contact dispute concerns their child.

• Derek → Allison (Family Former Spouses) — Their failed marriage forms the background to their dispute over Will.

  Derek is described as divorced, and Allison is identified as his ex-wife.

• Derek → Will (Family Father) — Derek is Will's father, and their relationship drives the central conflict.

  The synopsis identifies Derek as a divorced father who abducts his son Will.

Story Analysis

A divorced father's desperate attempt to preserve contact with his son becomes a morally complex family crisis.

Plot Progression

1. A Father Losing Contact — Derek is introduced as a divorced father, while Will and Allison establish the family structure. Allison's attempt to limit Derek's contact creates the emotional pressure at the story's center.
2. The Desperate Decision — Derek's vulnerability over separation from Will grows into a decisive action. He abducts his son after the contact restriction.
3. Love Under Judgment — The abduction turns the parental dispute into a moral and emotional crisis. The film examines Derek without presenting him either as a monster or as a hero.
4. A Nuanced Family Crisis — Derek's attachment to Will and the consequences of his decision converge in the dramatic peak. The story resolves through emotional ambiguity rather than a simple moral judgment.