Character Relationship Map: The Fourth

Characters

• Rey (played by Kontravious Harrell) — protagonist
• Emerson (played by Alexis Silvestre) — protagonist
• Clark (played by Nathan Crooker) — supporting
• Saint (played by Lee Bingham) — supporting
• Oscar (played by Oscar Perez) — supporting
• Wilson (played by Charlie Chappell) — supporting
• Jung (played by Peter Jae) — minor
• Brilsford (played by Ross Denyer) — minor
• Shelby (played by Robert Dowdy) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Brilsford → Shelby (Professional Partner) — Police officers likely working together during the encounter

Story Dynamics

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

• Emerson → Brilsford (Conflict Adversary) — Friend affected by the police encounter
• Rey → Shelby (Conflict Adversary) — Police officer involved in the traumatic encounter
• Rey → Brilsford (Conflict Adversary) — Police officer involved in the encounter that shatters the celebration
• Rey → Jung (Social Friend) — Member of the friend group celebrating together
• Rey → Wilson (Social Friend) — Part of the friend group during the celebration
• Rey → Oscar (Social Friend) — Friend celebrating 4th of July together
• Rey → Saint (Social Friend) — Member of the friend group enjoying the celebration
• Rey → Clark (Social Friend) — Part of the friend group celebrating the holiday
• Rey → Emerson (Social Friend) — Close friends celebrating 4th of July together

Story Analysis

The film examines the trauma experienced by four young men during a police stop shaped by suspicion of a reported handgun.

Plot Progression

1. Before the Police Stop — The film establishes four young men as its central subjects. Their situation changes when police officers stop them.
2. Suspicion Takes Hold — The police believe the young men are suspects reported to have a handgun. This belief defines the immediate tension of the encounter.
3. The Weight of the Encounter — The stop is presented through the perspective of the young men involved. The narrative emphasizes the trauma associated with being treated as suspects.
4. A Real-Life Reflection — The film connects the incident to real-life events. Its closing emphasis is the lasting trauma of the young men's experience.