This study, relying on the psychoanalytic theories of Karen Horney, provides a psychological analysis of the film "Sheeple," directed by Hooman Seyedi. The main aim of this research is to examine the role of hostility and basic anxiety in the formation of the film’s characters and the influence of these concepts on their character development arcs. The primary research question is: How are the concepts of basic anxiety and hostility, expressed through Karen Horney’s three neurotic strategies, reflected in the formation and development of the main characters in this film? This qualitative and interpretive-analytical study employs content analysis to investigate the psychological components. Basic anxiety, defined as a feeling of helplessness and insecurity rooted in childhood experiences, paves the way for the development of neurotic personality traits in the film’s protagonist, “Shahin,” and other family members. The research shows that the characters resort to defense mechanisms such as externalization, projection, and idealized self-image to cope with the experience of basic anxiety; they attribute responsibility for their failures and weaknesses to others, create an idealized and powerful image of themselves, and seek to compensate for these deficiencies by dominating others. The findings indicate that the main characters each represent one of Karen Horney’s neurotic coping strategies in response to basic anxiety. Psychoanalytic analysis of their development arcs reveals that not only are their personalities structured based on basic anxiety, but also that their paths of development or downfall are directly linked to how they confront this anxiety and hostility.