Windfall: Why The Movie's Characters Don't Have Actual Names
Warning! SPOILERS for Windfall.
Windfall makes the deliberate choice to avoid giving its characters actual names. The latest Netflix thriller Windfall boasts a high-caliber ensemble cast, including Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, and Jason Segel. Despite the film’s one-and-a-half-hour runtime, its characters remain unknown, as they're only referred to as the CEO (Plemons), the Wife (Collins), and Nobody (Segel). This creative decision is by no means accidental, as it allows the film's character identities to have a deliberate impact.
Directed by Charlie McDowell, Windfall seemingly begins with a home break-in. As the movie progresses, it escalates into a hostage situation that highlights the desperation of the characters at play. Although the thriller is mostly set within the wealthy couple’s property, it manages to unravel the complexities of economic inequalities with its metaphors and intimate conversations. Ultimately, towards its ending, Windfall reveals itself as a film about choices, exposing those who are trapped and freeing those who are shackled.
Windfall’s effect on its audience largely relies on its characters — and their lack of real names. Instead of having personalized names, they are only called by the roles they play in life: the CEO, his Wife, and Nobody. Because of this, Windfall shifts its focus to its themes, emphasizing the gap between the burglar and his victims. At this point, despite the movie being character-driven, their identities do not necessarily matter. The viewers are free to form their opinions of and project their own emotions on the nameless characters, making the film a more immersive experience.
Depriving the audience of actual character names is not unique to Windfall. However, this move still shows how the CEO, the Wife, and Nobody are merely faces representing their lots in life. Portrayed by Jesse Plemons, whose recent character work in The Power of the Dog wowed critics, the CEO is defined by his role. He is characterized as someone detached from reality, yet entitled to the lives and fates of other people. He shows no depth, aside from his wanting to eliminate freeloaders and maximize his profits as much as possible. Meanwhile, Wife is then labeled as such since, throughout the film, she is merely seen as the extension of her husband. Though she feels helpless and suffocated by her marriage, she has no choice but to stand by her decision.
On the other hand, Nobody is named literally. He is viewed as an ordinary man, merely collateral damage from the advancements the CEO is pushing for his personal gain. Unlike the Wife, who has given a glimpse into her personal life, Nobody’s details are unknown to anyone in Windfall. This aligns with the movie’s intention to reflect class divide, similarly shown in Lupin and Parasite, where the rich neglects the less fortunate. Establishing a connection with them is an inconvenience, so the earlier Nobody’s goal is achieved, the better it is for the CEO. After all, the amount Nobody asks for barely made a dent in the CEO’s accounts; what was a transformative event for the former was only a hiccup in the latter’s life.
By introducing nameless characters, Windfall forces its audience to realize how realistic its plot is. Instead of creating its own world with its own characters and events, the film somehow confirms that what happened with Nobody, the CEO, and Wife can happen to anyone fitting the mold. With this character arrangement, viewers can reflect on themselves, as Windfall depicts their experiences or shared stories onscreen.