Character Relationship Map: Basket Case 2

Characters

• Duane Bradley (played by Kevin Van Hentenryck) — protagonist

  Survives a fatal fall and resides with Granny Ruth's family. Consumed by resentment toward his brother Belial, he attempts to flee with Susan. His psychological breakdown leads to Susan's accidental d...

• Granny Ruth (played by Annie Ross) — supporting

  Elderly caretaker who rescues Duane and Belial from the hospital after seeing them on television. She provides a sanctuary for her extended family of deformed individuals and actively works to stop Ma...

• Susan (played by Heather Rattray) — supporting

  Granny Ruth's granddaughter who cares for the deformed family. She reveals her own tragic condition of carrying a grotesque fetus for six years to Duane. Accidentally killed by Duane when he pushes he...

• Marcie (played by Kathryn Meisle) — supporting

  Sleazy reporter investigating the Bradley brothers. She plans to expose the deformed individuals to the world, prompting Granny Ruth's family to kill her and her accomplices. Belial ultimately mutilat...

• Phil (played by Ted Sorel) — supporting

  Private detective assisting Marcie in tracking down the Bradley brothers. He is killed by Granny Ruth and the other deformed individuals after Duane obtains his address from Phil's wallet.

• Arty (played by Matt Mitler) — supporting

  Sleazy photographer working alongside Marcie. He assists in searching for the Bradley brothers but is ultimately killed by Granny Ruth and the deformed family.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Marcie → Phil (Professional Investigation Partners) — Phil provides investigative assistance to Marcie's search.

  Phil is a private detective assisting Marcie in tracking down the Bradley brothers.

• Marcie → Arty (Professional Reporter And Photographer) — They work together as a sensationalist media team.

  Marcie is described as a reporter, while Arty is her photographer. They search for the Bradley brothers together.

• Granny Ruth → Susan (Family Grandmother And Granddaughter) — They are family members who jointly maintain the household.

  The plot identifies Susan as Granny Ruth's granddaughter, and both care for the household's deformed residents.

Story Dynamics

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

• Granny Ruth → Arty (Conflict Captor And Victim) — Their conflict ends with Arty's death during the household's retaliation.

  Granny Ruth and the other residents kill Arty after he helps Marcie investigate and expose them.

• Granny Ruth → Phil (Conflict Captor And Victim) — Ruth participates in eliminating a threat to the household.

  Granny Ruth and the other deformed residents kill Phil after he assists Marcie in locating the brothers.

• Granny Ruth → Marcie (Conflict Protector And Exposer) — Their opposing goals turn Ruth into Marcie's direct adversary.

  Marcie decides to expose Ruth's household, forcing Granny Ruth and the other residents to stop her.

• Arty → Duane Bradley (Conflict Photographer And Target) — Arty participates in the media pursuit threatening Duane's secrecy.

  Arty works with Marcie while searching for the Bradley brothers and helping uncover their hidden household.

• Phil → Duane Bradley (Conflict Investigator And Target) — Phil's investigation places him in opposition to Duane.

  Phil assists Marcie in tracking down the Bradley brothers, making Duane one of the targets of his investigation.

• Marcie → Duane Bradley (Conflict Investigator And Target) — Marcie's investigation directly threatens Duane's safety and privacy.

  Marcie searches for the Bradley brothers to bring them to justice and plans to expose the unusual household to the world.

• Susan → Duane Bradley (Conflict Rejected Escape Partner) — Their attempted escape plan creates a sharp personal conflict.

  Duane asks Susan to run away with him, but she is horrified that he would leave his brother and rejects the proposal.

• Granny Ruth → Duane Bradley (Alliance Rescuer And Protected Person) — Granny Ruth becomes Duane's protector and sanctuary provider.

  Granny Ruth sees the brothers on the news and rescues them from the hospital. She takes Duane into her home and provides him shelter.

Story Analysis

A troubled brother seeks escape from a monstrous family bond, but his psychological collapse ultimately recreates the bond through violence.

Plot Progression

1. Rescue From Exposure — Duane and his brother survive the hotel fall but are confined in a hospital. Television coverage exposes their condition, allowing Granny Ruth to rescue them and offer sanctuary.
2. A House Of Outsiders — Ruth and Susan care for a hidden household of deformed residents. As years pass, Duane's resentment toward his brother and the household becomes increasingly severe.
3. The Exposers Fall — Marcie, Arty, and Phil track down the Bradley brothers and discover Ruth's residents. The household kills Arty and Phil, then uses Phil's wallet to locate Marcie.
4. Retaliation And False Relief — Duane and the residents invade Marcie's house, and Marcie is mutilated as retaliation. The household celebrates, but Duane uses the moment to pursue escape with Susan.
5. The Final Reattachment — Susan reveals her grotesque pregnancy and the creature emerging from her surgical wounds. Duane kills her accidentally, forcibly reunites with his brother, and horrifies Ruth's household.