The Village cast features Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix and Adrien Brody. This article contains spoilers and character details for M. Night Shyamalan’s 2004 movie. Visit the Know the Cast section for more streaming guides.

The Village stars Bryce Dallas Howard as a blind woman, Ivy, who investigates the woods surrounding her idealistic commune. In 2004, I remember being disappointed by the final act twist, probably because I viewed the revelation as the proper “ending” and thus conveniently ignored what transpires in the final minutes. After re-watching the film 17 years later, the romantic aspects stand out, specifically the warm and supportive relationship between Ivy and Joaquin Phoenix’s Lucius Hunt. Here’s a Know the Cast breakdown of all the main players in The Village, a film that appears cold on the surface but succeeds with its low-key central love story and thematic explorations of grief.

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The Village Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard as Ivy Elizabeth Walker

Character Profile: A blind villager who can sense color in people. She leads a mission to find medicine for her fiancée Lucius, who is stabbed by a jealous local. Ivy learns from her father that “Those We Don’t Speak Of” are actually villagers who conspire to protect the community’s secrets.

Howard’s Resume: Story in Lady in the Water, Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3, Kate Connor in Terminator Salvation, Claire in Jurassic World, Sheila in Rocketman

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The Village Cast: Joaquin Phoenix as Lucius Hunt

Character Profile: A villager who intends to explore the woods outside Covington. He develops a romance with Ivy but gets stabbed by Noah – a moment that director Leigh Janiak references in Fear Street: Part One – 1994.

Phoenix’s Resume: Commodus in Gladiator, Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, Freddie Quell in The Master, Theodore in Her, Arthur Fleck in Joker

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The Village Cast: Adrien Brody as Noah Percy

Character Profile: A mentally-challenged local who stabs Lucius out of jealousy. He later finds a mask while detained and terrorizes Ivy in the woods.

Brody’s Resume: Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist, Jack Starks in The Jacket, Salvador Dalí in Midnight in Paris, Dmitri in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Luca Changretta in Peaky Blinders

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Spirited’

The Village Cast: William Hurt as Edward Walker

Character Profile: Ivy’s father, the son of a wealthy local. In the past, he taught history at the University of Pennsylvania and founded Covington after meeting people at a grief counseling clinic. Edward informs Ivy about the village’s secrets, and has romantic feelings for Alice.

Hurt’s Resume: Eddie Jessup in Altered States, Ned Racine in Body Heat, Tom Grunick in Broadcast News, Richie Cusack in A History of Violence, Secretary Ross in Black Widow

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The Village Cast: Sigourney Weaver as Alice Hunt

Character Profile: Edward’s love interest who is adamant about protecting the village’s secrets.

Weaver’s Resume: Ripley in Alien, Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters, Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist, Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar, The Director in The Cabin in the Woods

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The Village Cast: Brendan Gleeson as August Nicholson

Character Profile: A cynical villager who believes that sorrow can smell him.

Gleeson’s Resume: Hamish in Braveheart, Stobrod Thewes in Cold Mountain, Ken in In Bruges, Gerry Boyle in The Guard, Father James in Calvary

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Off Track’

The Village Cast: Cherry Jones as Mrs. Clack

Character Profile: A Covington local whose sister was murdered in the past.

Jones’ Resume: Edie Bailey in The Perfect Storm, Officer Paski in Signs, Molly Star in Ocean’s Twelve, President Allison Taylor in 24, Gabby Horowitz in Motherless Brooklyn

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Smile’

The Village Cast: Judy Greer as Kitty Walker

Character Profile: Ivy’s older sister who becomes engaged to Christop after being rejected by Lucius.

Greer’s Resume: Lucy Wyman in 13 Going on 30, Casey in 27 Dresses, Maggie Lang in Ant-Man, Karen in Jurassic World, Karen in Halloween

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’

The Village Cast: Michael Pitt as Finton Coin

Character Profile: Ivy’s travel partner who initially shows more bravery than Christop but then retreats back to the village.

Pitt’s Resume: Matthew in The Dreamers, Paul in Funny Games, Jimmy Darmody in Boardwalk Empire, Larry in Seven Psychopaths, Andrew Landon in Lisey’s Story

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Tulsa King’

The Village Cast: Jesse Eisenberg as Jamison

Character Profile: A villager who stands atop a tree stump at the beginning of the film.

Eisenberg’s Resume: Walt Berkman in The Squid and the Whale, Columbus in Zombieland, Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, Simon in The Double, Lex Luthor in Zack Snyder’s Justice League

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The Village Cast: Charlie Hofheimer as Kevin Lupinski

Character Profile: A park ranger who discovers Ivy and helps her find medicine for Lucius.

Hofheimer’s Resume: Smith in Black Hawk Down, Abe Drexler in Mad Men, Ben Grimes in 24: Legacy, Dennis Lambert in For All Mankind

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The Village Cast: M. Night Shyamalan as Jay

Character Profile: A park ranger who reads at his desk while Kevin takes medical supplies for Ivy. He speaks but is only seen through a reflection visual.

Shyamalan’s Resume: Director of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Visit, Split

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Causeway’

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The Village cast also includes Celia Weston (Dead Man Walking), John Christopher Jones (Awakenings) Frank Collison (Twin Peaks), Jayne Atkinson (House of Cards) and Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods)

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.