Character Relationship Map: Hex

Characters

• Whizzer (played by Keith Carradine) — protagonist

  A member of the motorcycle gang traveling west to California, Whizzer presents himself as a war veteran, though China reveals that he is actually an ex-mechanic from Kansas City. He teaches Oriole to...

• Oriole (played by Cristina Raines) — protagonist

  One of the sisters who own the remote farm, Oriole is a stern woman whose father was a Native American shaman. She uses his magic against the gang, including hexing Giblets and harming China through a...

• Jimbang (played by Scott Glenn) — supporting

  A member of the motorcycle gang traveling across the United States, Jimbang turns against Oriole when China goes missing and attempts to shoot her. His gun mysteriously misfires, killing him instead....

• Acacia (played by Hilarie Thompson) — supporting

  Oriole's younger sister, Acacia lives on the remote farm and becomes enamored of Golly after the gang arrives. She is assaulted by Giblets but fights him off, and later appears to influence Chupo. Dis...

• Chupo (played by Robert Walker Jr.) — supporting

  A member of the motorcycle gang sheltering at the sisters' farm, Chupo comes under Acacia's spell and attacks Whizzer in the barn. He does not respond when Whizzer pleads with him to stop, and Whizzer...

• Golly (played by Mike Combs) — supporting

  One of the motorcycle gang members traveling west, Golly grows close to Acacia after they meet at the farm. He goes off with her while Whizzer searches for him, and ultimately decides to stay with Aca...

• Giblets (played by Gary Busey) — supporting

  A member of the motorcycle gang, Giblets attempts to rape Acacia in the barn, but she fends him off. Oriole retaliates by placing a hex on him, and an owl attacks him outside, killing him. The gang fi...

• China (played by Doria Cook-Nelson) — supporting

  The only woman in the motorcycle gang, China exposes Whizzer's claim to be a war veteran as a lie, saying he is an ex-mechanic from Kansas City. After clashing with Oriole, she falls asleep near a toa...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Golly → Acacia (Romantic Interest) — Their attraction becomes strong enough that Golly ultimately chooses to stay with Acacia.

  The younger Acacia becomes enamored of Golly, and the two quickly grow close.

• Oriole → Acacia (Family Sisters) — They are sisters whose relationship fractures over Oriole's use of shamanistic magic.

  The plot identifies Oriole and Acacia as two sisters who own the remote farm.

• Whizzer → Oriole (Romantic Interest) — Their attraction culminates when Oriole leaves the farm with Whizzer.

  Whizzer teaches Oriole to ride a motorcycle and later makes romantic advances toward her.

Story Dynamics

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

• Oriole → China (Conflict Magical Adversary) — Their hostility escalates through magical manipulation and ends with China's death.

  Oriole puts strands of China's hair into a sewn-shut toad effigy, and China later experiences a disturbing nightmare.

• Oriole → Giblets (Conflict Magical Adversary) — Oriole retaliates against Giblets through her father's shamanistic magic.

  After Giblets attacks Acacia, Oriole casts a hex on him, and he is later killed by an owl.

• Giblets → Acacia (Conflict Sexual Aggressor) — His assault directly triggers Acacia's protection by Oriole and Giblets' subsequent death.

  In the barn, Giblets attempts to rape Acacia, who fends him off.

• Golly → Chupo (Alliance Teammate) — Their relationship is established through the group's shared journey.

  Chupo and Golly travel with the same band of motorcyclists.

• Golly → Jimbang (Alliance Teammate) — They share the group's journey but have no separately described personal bond.

  Jimbang and Golly are both members of the motorcycle group seeking their fortunes in California.

• Whizzer → Giblets (Alliance Teammate) — Their group affiliation is disrupted after Giblets dies at the farm.

  Giblets travels with Whizzer and the other motorcyclists toward California.

• Whizzer → Chupo (Alliance Teammate) — They are members of the same traveling band before becoming enemies in the barn.

  Chupo is listed among the men traveling with Whizzer across the country.

• Whizzer → Jimbang (Alliance Teammate) — Their connection is based on shared travel and membership in the same group.

  Jimbang is one of the five men traveling with Whizzer in the motorcycle group.

• Whizzer → Golly (Alliance Teammate) — They remain traveling companions and prepare to leave the farm together.

  Whizzer and Golly travel across the United States with the same band of returning motorcyclists.

Story Analysis

A group of travelers enters a farm ruled by supernatural violence, and the sisters' conflict transforms the journey into a tragic struggle for escape and allegiance.

Plot Progression

1. A Race Ends in Refuge — A group of returning motorcyclists heads toward California and becomes involved in a disputed race. They flee to a remote farm, where Oriole grants them shelter in the barn.
2. The First Hex — Giblets attacks Acacia during the night, and Oriole retaliates with a hex. Giblets is killed by an owl, leaving the travelers to bury him under the sisters' supervision.
3. Desire and Deception — Acacia grows close to Golly while Whizzer teaches Oriole to ride. China exposes Whizzer's false veteran story, intensifying hostility between China and Oriole.
4. The Effigy Takes Hold — Oriole creates a toad effigy using China's hair, and China suffers a disturbing nightmare at the swimming hole. China disappears while Oriole misleads the searching townsmen.
5. Magic Tears the Group Apart — Jimbang dies when his gun misfires, and Chupo attacks Whizzer under Acacia's spell. Oriole kills China through the toad effigy, causing Acacia to renounce her.
6. A Strange Departure — Oriole causes the motorcycles to combust while wearing her father's shaman regalia. Golly stays with Acacia, while Oriole leaves with Whizzer as fighter jets pass overhead.