"Support them. Take care of them. But don't become their friend."
Short Term 12 - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Grace
Brie Larson
Motivation
To provide the safety for others that she never had as a child, while desperately trying to prove she is not broken.
Character Arc
Starts as a tough, competent protector who hides her own pregnancy and past abuse. Through her connection with Jayden, she is forced to confront her abuser and her fears, eventually learning to lean on Mason and accept her own need for help.
Mason
John Gallagher Jr.
Motivation
To build a life with Grace and be a positive male role model for the kids, using humor to diffuse tension.
Character Arc
Remains a steady rock throughout the film. His journey is one of patience, waiting for Grace to let him in, and demonstrating that a healthy, loving family dynamic is possible despite a foster care background.
Marcus
LaKeith Stanfield
Motivation
To be heard and understood before he is pushed out into the world alone.
Character Arc
moves from a quiet, brooding presence to an explosive expression of pain through his music, finally finding a moment of acceptance and hope before leaving the facility.
Jayden
Kaitlyn Dever
Motivation
To protect herself from further pain by pushing everyone away.
Character Arc
Arrives as a defiant, self-harming outcast. Through Grace's intervention, she slowly reveals her abuse and takes the brave step of exposing her father, breaking her own cycle of silence.