Who Are The Main Characters In Experimental Film?

Lois Cairns immediately grabbed me—a washed-up film critic with a dry sense of humor and a desperate need to prove herself. Her voice carries the whole novel, oscillating between sarcastic and terrified in a way that feels utterly human. Then there's Iris, whose fragmented memories of the cursed film strip are equal parts tragic and terrifying—her blindness becomes this brilliant metaphor for how we 'see' the past. Clark, the ex-husband, serves as the grounding force, though his skepticism starts to feel like willful ignorance as things escalate. And Mrs. A.? More of a spectral presence than a traditional character, but her influence is everywhere, a reminder that some horrors outlive their creators. The way these personalities collide makes the horror feel personal, not just supernatural—it's about broken people facing something beyond understanding.

The cast of 'Experimental Film' by Gemma Files is such a fascinating mix of flawed, deeply human characters that stuck with me long after finishing the book. Lois Cairns, the protagonist, is a former film critic turned reluctant detective—her sharp wit and desperation to uncover the truth about the mysterious 'Lady Midday' film reel make her incredibly compelling. She's balancing single motherhood with her obsession, and that tension fuels the whole story. Then there's Clark, her ex-husband, who's equal parts supportive and infuriating, embodying that messy post-divorce dynamic. The real standout for me was Iris Dunlopp, the elderly blind woman whose childhood memories of the eerie, possibly supernatural film become central to the plot. Her vulnerability and stubbornness create this heartbreaking authenticity. And of course, there's the enigmatic figure of Mrs. A., the artist behind the lost films—more myth than person, but her presence looms over everything like a shadow.

What really makes these characters shine is how Files blurs the line between reality and madness. Lois's teenage son, Charlie, becomes an unwitting catalyst for horror, and his relationship with his mom adds this layer of visceral dread—you feel her terror as she tries to protect him while unraveling the mystery. Even secondary characters like Mal, Lois's film historian friend, or the sinister Dr. Scolopendra have this eerie depth. It's less about traditional heroism and more about how obsession warps people, which is why the ending hit me so hard. That last scene with Iris still creeps into my thoughts sometimes when I'm alone in a dark room.

I couldn't put 'Experimental Film' down partly because the characters felt so real—not your typical horror archetypes. Lois isn't some fearless investigator; she's a tired mom who chain-smokes and makes bad decisions out of love. Her flaws are what make the supernatural elements scarier. Clark, her ex, annoyed me at first with his pragmatic skepticism, but that's the point—he represents the 'normal world' Lois is desperately trying to cling to. Iris, though? She shattered my heart. A nonagenarian with fading memories, she's the key to the whole nightmare, and Files writes her with such tenderness that her final scenes wrecked me emotionally. Even minor players like the creepy film collector Varga or Lois's skeptical sister add texture to this story about art, motherhood, and the cost of chasing ghosts.

The brilliance of the characterization lies in how ordinary people get dragged into something incomprehensible. Lois's gradual unraveling is paced perfectly—you see her go from curious to obsessed to terrified, and it never feels forced. And Charlie! Kids in horror are usually just plot devices, but his vulnerability and the way he mirrors Lois's own childhood trauma add layers to the dread. What sticks with me most is how Files uses these characters to explore themes: Iris symbolizes forgotten history, Clark represents denial, and Lois… she's every person who's ever chased a dream only to find a monster waiting. That final confrontation in the abandoned hospital? Chills, literal chills.

The protagonist is Lois Cairns. The antagonist is arguably twofold: the supernatural force within the film, and the human ignorance or denial represented by those around her who don't believe the threat (though Simon comes around). Mrs. Whitcomb exists in a gray area—is she an antagonist or a fellow victim? Iris is a historical figure turned victim/maybe vector. Clark is the vulnerable party Lois must protect. It's a classic horror setup but executed with unusual depth. The characters aren't fodder; they're complex people whose existing flaws and stresses are exploited by the ancient evil. Lois's pride and desperation, Mrs. Whitcomb's secrecy, Simon's skepticism—they all feed into the crisis. So the main characters are both the victims and, in small ways, the architects of their own haunting.