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Chris Washington, played by Daniel Kaluuya, is the movie's protagonist, an initially quiet, observant character who reveals himself to be a survivor armed with sharp wit and relentless will. As a photographer whose keen eye allows him to identify suspicious patterns, Chris must rely on fierce instincts and resilience to escape the nightmare closing in around him. Chris begins the movie as a slightly apprehensive but broadly optimistic boyfriend feeling nervous about meeting his white girlfriend’s wealthy parents. At the beginning of the film, Chris is cautious but willing to trust Rose when she assures him that her family will not react negatively to their interracial relationship. Although his knowing look when she says her father’s love for Black people is “so real” and his frequent discomfort at Rose’s aggressive allyship seems to belie total trust in this, it’s clear he believes she means well. He remains polite and composed during his many uncomfortable interactions with the Armitages and their guests, even when a woman at the Armitage’s party crudely asks Rose if sex with him is better than with white men. However, Chris can’t help noticing strange behavior from the family’s Black employees. His photographer’s knack for assessing and analyzing situations allows him to recognize suspicious patterns, even if he initially hesitates to act on his suspicions for fear of harming his relationship with Rose. 

Chris’s defining trait is his survival instinct. Once he realizes that he is in danger, he remains mostly calm and strategic rather than succumbing to panic. This is most clearly visible when, while he’s tied up in the Armitages’ basement, he silently collects cotton stuffing from his chair to block his ears, which prevents Missy’s hypnosis from taking effect. His ability to think ahead and resist manipulation allows him to escape despite the fact that the Armitages have him physically and psychologically restrained. By the end of the film, Chris fully understands that he cannot afford to trust Rose or hesitate in defending himself out of a sense of social nicety. His decision to strangle Rose and then ultimately let her go when she taunts him shows that he rejects both her manipulation and the urge to submit to reckless violence. This is an important moment in the film, and it serves to undermine the racist idea that Black people’s emotions and actions are more volatile than those of their white counterparts. 

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