Character Relationship Map: Snowtown

Characters

• John Bunting (played by Daniel Henshall) — protagonist

  A violent, charismatic man who becomes a father figure to Jamie, John targets the boys’ mother’s boyfriend and promotes his homophobic views in the neighbourhood. He recruits Jamie into a group that m...

• Elizabeth Harvey (played by Louise Harris) — supporting

  Jamie’s distressed mother, Elizabeth lives with him and his brothers in Salisbury. After her boyfriend takes indecent photographs of the boys and police are reluctant to intervene, she is contacted by...

• Barry (played by Richard Green) — supporting

  A gay, cross-dressing man, Barry contacts Elizabeth after police fail to intervene over her boyfriend’s conduct and introduces her to John. He supplies John with names and addresses of local paedophil...

• Troy (played by Anthony Groves) — supporting

  Jamie’s half-brother, Troy rapes him and is the only person in the neighbourhood described as disliking John. John and Robert later torture Troy, and Jamie kills him, believing the act to be merciful...

• Robert (played by Aaron Viergever) — supporting

  Robert is associated with John’s violent group and helps him carry out murders. He joins John in showing Jamie the bodies of Barry and Gavin, and later takes part in torturing Troy. After the remains...

Canonical Relationships

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

• John Bunting → Robert (Power Recruiting Leader) — Robert becomes part of John's violent operational circle.

  John and Robert later act together in the shed, torture Troy, and participate in storing bodies in the bank vault.

• Barry → Robert (Romantic Boyfriend) — Barry and Robert are romantically involved before their separation.

  Barry is described as being separated from his younger boyfriend Robert after John influences the neighborhood.

• Elizabeth Harvey → Troy (Family Mother And Son) — Troy belongs to Elizabeth's family household.

  Elizabeth is described as living with her sons, including Troy, in the same distressed household.

Story Dynamics

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

• Robert → Troy (Conflict Torturer) — Robert actively assists in Troy's abuse.

  Robert participates with John in torturing Troy in the garden shed.

• Troy → John Bunting (Conflict Resister) — Troy openly rejects John's presence and influence.

  The plot states that Troy is the only person in the household who seems to dislike John.

• Barry → John Bunting (Alliance Informant) — Barry supplies information that enables John's vigilante campaign.

  Barry tells John the names and addresses of alleged paedophiles in the area.

• Elizabeth Harvey → Barry (Social Referrer) — Barry connects Elizabeth with John.

  Barry contacts Elizabeth and introduces her to John after the police are reluctant to intervene.

• John Bunting → Elizabeth Harvey (Alliance Protector) — John initially appears to protect Elizabeth's household from abuse.

  After Elizabeth reports abuse and police are reluctant to intervene, John targets her boyfriend and drives him away.

Story Analysis

A neglected household is drawn into John Bunting's violent ideology, culminating in murders concealed inside the Snowtown bank vault.

Plot Progression

1. A Household Without Protection — Elizabeth's distressed household is exposed to abuse, while the police hesitate to intervene. Barry then connects Elizabeth with John.
2. The Vigilante Mask — John drives Elizabeth's boyfriend away through grotesque harassment and builds a wall targeting alleged paedophiles. His apparent protection develops into intimidation.
3. Influence Becomes Entrapment — John spreads homophobic ideas, separates Barry from Robert, and stages a violent initiation. Barry disappears, while John forms a burial team.
4. The Shed Of Victims — John and Robert reveal the bodies of Barry and Gavin, then torture Troy. Troy's death marks the point at which violence becomes normalized.
5. Snowtown's Hidden Vault — Further murders are concealed in barrels inside an abandoned bank vault. A final lure brings another victim to the bank before police discover the remains and make arrests.