Character Relationship Map: The Binge

Characters

• Griffin (played by Skyler Gisondo) — protagonist

  Rebellious college student at the center of the binge weekend chaos.

• Hags (played by Dexter Darden) — protagonist

  Griffin's loyal friend and co-conspirator during the wild festivities.

• Andrew (played by Eduardo Franco) — supporting

  Cautious but enthusiastic friend navigating the chaotic annual drinking festival.

• Principal Carlsen (played by Vince Vaughn) — supporting

  School administrator trying to maintain order during the chaotic event.

• Lena (played by Grace Van Dien) — supporting

  Friend and party companion dealing with the aftermath of the weekend.

• Sarah (played by Zainne Saleh) — supporting

  Griffin's love interest and voice of reason amidst the party chaos.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Principal Carlsen → Andrew (Power Authority Pressure) — Andrew is placed within the group subjected to Carlsen's intimidating authority.

  Principal Carlsen confronts a group of young people and pressures them into revealing what they are carrying; Andrew is part of Griffin's young group...

• Principal Carlsen → Hags (Professional School Authority) — Carlsen investigates Hags as part of his effort to maintain school order.

  Principal Carlsen questions Griffin and Hags after suspicious items are found at school.

• Principal Carlsen → Griffin (Professional School Authority) — Carlsen exercises disciplinary authority over Griffin as a school administrator.

  Principal Carlsen questions Griffin at school and orders him to clean up a prank in the chemistry lab.

• Principal Carlsen → Lena (Family Father) — Carlsen is Lena's father and struggles to balance parental concern with her desire for independence.

  Lena wants to communicate honestly with her father, and Principal Carlsen tells her that she can talk to him.

• Griffin → Lena (Romantic Pursuer) — Griffin openly expresses romantic interest in Lena by asking her to prom.

  Griffin nervously asks Lena to prom in front of the crowd.

• Griffin → Sarah (Romantic Love Interest) — Sarah is presented as Griffin's romantic interest within the party storyline.

  Sarah is identified as Griffin's love interest, and Griffin and his friends travel to Sarah's house for the pre-game party.

Story Dynamics

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

• Hags → Andrew (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the same competition team.

  Hags and Andrew enter the underground Gauntlet alongside Griffin as members of the Best Friends team.

• Griffin → Andrew (Alliance Teammate) — Andrew joins Griffin and Hags in their attempt to participate in the competition.

  Griffin and Hags set out with Andrew, and the three later enter the Gauntlet as the Best Friends team.

• Griffin → Hags (Social Loyal Friend) — They rely on each other while pursuing access to the Binge festivities.

  Hags is described as Griffin's loyal friend and co-conspirator, and the two set out together for the pre-game party.

Story Analysis

A restricted society's annual release turns a group of young people's night into a collision between friendship, independence, authority, and competition.

Plot Progression

1. A Nation Counts Down — The film establishes a near-future America where alcohol and narcotics are prohibited except during a twelve-hour annual event. School warnings and sirens announce that the Binge is approaching.
2. Trouble Before Midnight — Griffin and Hags are questioned over suspicious items, while Griffin is ordered to clean a chemistry lab prank. The friends then leave with Andrew for Sarah's pre-game party.
3. The Night Goes Sideways — The friends approach the party but are rejected in favor of a limousine, and their unusual ride causes confusion and disruption. Carlsen separately pressures young people and sends them toward Carnegi...
4. The Missing Valleyman — At the underground Gauntlet, Griffin, Hags, and Andrew enter as the Best Friends. They discover that the rules require a fourth member, leaving their team incomplete.
5. Father Joins the Game — Lena confronts Carlsen's disapproval and explains her wish to experience adolescence honestly. Griffin asks her to prom, and Carlsen ultimately joins the team as its legendary fourth competitor.