Character Relationship Map: Hereditary

Characters

• Annie Graham (played by Toni Collette) — protagonist

  Grieving mother and miniature artist haunted by her family's dark occult legacy.

• Peter Graham (played by Alex Wolff) — protagonist

  Traumatized teenage son struggling with guilt and supernatural possession.

• Steve Graham (played by Gabriel Byrne) — supporting

  Annie's supportive but increasingly helpless husband.

• Charlie Graham (played by Milly Shapiro) — supporting

  Eccentric, socially awkward daughter with a fascination for the occult.

• Joan (played by Ann Dowd) — supporting

  Compassionate support group leader secretly serving the cult.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Peter Graham → Charlie Graham (Family Brother And Sister) — Peter's decision to take Charlie to the hospital ends in her death, leaving him consumed by guilt.

  Peter and Charlie are identified as Annie and Steve's children. Peter drives Charlie to the hospital after her allergic reaction, and she is decapitat...

• Peter Graham → Steve Graham (Family Father And Son) — Steve attempts to mediate the family crisis, but his death leaves Peter alone during the final supernatural events.

  Steve is Peter's father. After Steve dies in the fire, Peter finds his charred corpse in the house.

• Annie Graham → Charlie Graham (Family Mother And Daughter) — Annie's grief over Charlie's death drives her toward a séance and leaves her vulnerable to the family's occult legacy.

  Charlie is identified as Annie's daughter. Annie says her relationship with her own mother changed when Charlie was born, and she later tries to conta...

• Annie Graham → Steve Graham (Family Wife And Husband) — Their marriage is strained by grief and escalating supernatural events, culminating in Steve's death when the sketchbook burns.

  Steve is identified as Annie's husband. He tries to mediate between Annie and Peter, but later refuses to burn Charlie's sketchbook because he believe...

• Annie Graham → Peter Graham (Family Mother And Son) — Their relationship deteriorates after Charlie's accidental death, and supernatural events further endanger Peter.

  Peter is identified as Annie's 16-year-old son. After Charlie's death, Annie becomes bitter and resentful toward him, while he is wracked with guilt.

Story Dynamics

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

• Peter Graham → Joan (Conflict Cult Target) — Joan participates in the coven's effort to make Peter the host for Paimon and hails him as King Paimon.

  Joan appears across the street from Peter's school and attempts to expel his spirit from his body for Paimon. At the treehouse, she places a crown on...

• Annie Graham → Joan (Conflict Deceptive Confidante) — Joan presents herself as a sympathetic support-group member while secretly serving the coven involved in the supernatural events.

  Joan befriends Annie at a bereavement support group and suggests a séance. Annie later finds a photo album showing Joan as one of Ellen's coven acolyt...

Story Analysis

After a family tragedy, Annie uncovers an occult legacy that drives the Grahams toward possession and the coronation of Paimon's chosen host.

Plot Progression

1. A Funeral Shadowed by Secrets — The Graham family attends Ellen's funeral, and Annie reflects on her difficult history with her mother. Charlie's allergic reaction during a party ends in a fatal accident that leaves Peter overwhelme...
2. Grief Turns the Family Against Itself — After Charlie's funeral, Peter withdraws and Annie's resentment toward him grows. Joan offers Annie a séance as a way to contact Charlie, leading the family into a frightening experience.
3. The Occult Legacy Revealed — Annie's attempts to understand the haunting lead her to Charlie's sketchbook and Ellen's belongings. She uncovers evidence of Joan's connection to a coven and learns that Paimon seeks a male host.
4. The Host and the Coronation — Peter is targeted and then possessed, while Annie's effort to destroy the sketchbook results in Steve's death and her own possession. The coven gathers at the house, and Peter is crowned as Paimon's k...