A Walk Among the Tombstones
Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.
Despite a mid-range budget of $28.0M, A Walk Among the Tombstones became a solid performer, earning $58.8M worldwide—a 110% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014) showcases meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Scott Frank's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Matt Scudder
TJ
Kenny Kristo
Ray
Albert
Peter Kristo
Yuri Landau
Lucia
Main Cast & Characters
Matt Scudder
Played by Liam Neeson
A former NYPD detective turned unlicensed private investigator, haunted by a past shooting incident that killed a young girl. Now sober and attending AA meetings, he takes on a case hunting serial killers who target drug traffickers' wives.
TJ
Played by Brian 'Astro' Bradley
A streetwise homeless teenager with sickle cell disease who befriends Scudder and assists him with research. He becomes Scudder's unofficial partner and protégé.
Kenny Kristo
Played by Dan Stevens
A drug trafficker whose wife Carrie was kidnapped and murdered by the killers despite paying the ransom. He hires Scudder to find and stop the men responsible.
Ray
Played by David Harbour
One of two psychopathic serial killers who targets and brutalizes women connected to drug dealers. He is the more dominant and sadistic of the pair.
Albert
Played by Adam David Thompson
The second serial killer, a quieter but equally dangerous partner to Ray. He handles much of the technical aspects of their crimes.
Peter Kristo
Played by Boyd Holbrook
Kenny's brother, also involved in the drug trade. His stepdaughter Lucia becomes a target of the killers.
Yuri Landau
Played by Sebastian Roche
A Russian drug trafficker whose daughter was previously victimized by the same killers. He provides Scudder with crucial information about the kidnappers.
Lucia
Played by Danielle Rose Russell
Peter Kristo's stepdaughter who is kidnapped by Ray and Albert, becoming the catalyst for the film's climactic confrontation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes 1991 flashback: Detective Matt Scudder, drunk on duty, confronts armed robbers in a bar, kills them but accidentally shoots an innocent woman. His world before sobriety - a skilled detective corrupted by alcoholism.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Drug trafficker Kenny Kristo approaches Scudder at a cemetery. His wife Carrie was kidnapped, he paid ransom, but they killed her anyway. Kenny wants Scudder to find the men who did this - not for justice, but for vengeance.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Scudder commits fully to the case after visiting the cemetery where Carrie is buried and learning the full horror of what was done to her. He chooses to hunt these killers regardless of who the victims were - this is about stopping evil., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Scudder identifies the killers - brothers Ray and Albert - and realizes they've already kidnapped another victim, Lucia, wife of trafficker Yuri. The stakes escalate from solving past murders to preventing an imminent one. The clock is now ticking., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lucia is found dead, dismembered. Scudder has failed again - just like the innocent woman he shot years ago, another woman is dead because he wasn't good enough. His guilt and past trauma resurface. He fears he's the same failure he always was., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Scudder and Kenny storm the killers' house. Violent confrontation - Scudder kills Ray, Kenny shoots Albert. They rescue the girl alive. Scudder finally saves the innocent life he couldn't save before. Kenny gets his revenge. Justice through violence in a world without law., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Walk Among the Tombstones's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping A Walk Among the Tombstones against these established plot points, we can identify how Scott Frank utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Walk Among the Tombstones within the crime genre.
Scott Frank's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Scott Frank films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. A Walk Among the Tombstones takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Scott Frank filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Scott Frank analyses, see The Lookout.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
1991 flashback: Detective Matt Scudder, drunk on duty, confronts armed robbers in a bar, kills them but accidentally shoots an innocent woman. His world before sobriety - a skilled detective corrupted by alcoholism.
Theme
At an AA meeting, a member shares: "People are afraid of all the wrong things." The film's exploration of what truly haunts us - not external dangers but our own choices and the need for redemption.
Worldbuilding
1999 New York. Eight years later, Scudder is sober, unlicensed, attending AA regularly. He works as an off-the-books private investigator. We see his spartan life, his routine, his discipline, his isolation. He meets TJ, a homeless teen. Establishes Scudder's redemption-seeking present.
Disruption
Drug trafficker Kenny Kristo approaches Scudder at a cemetery. His wife Carrie was kidnapped, he paid ransom, but they killed her anyway. Kenny wants Scudder to find the men who did this - not for justice, but for vengeance.
Resistance
Scudder resists taking the case - he doesn't work for criminals. Kenny persists. Scudder investigates reluctantly, interviews Kenny's brother Peter, learns the brutal details of Carrie's death. Debates whether he can help drug dealers, even if they're victims. Discovers another similar case - Leila murdered the same way.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Scudder commits fully to the case after visiting the cemetery where Carrie is buried and learning the full horror of what was done to her. He chooses to hunt these killers regardless of who the victims were - this is about stopping evil.
Mirror World
TJ increasingly inserts himself into Scudder's investigation, offering street smarts and tech help. Their developing bond represents the connection Scudder denied himself - TJ is a kid who needs guidance, Scudder is a man who needs to save someone he can actually save.
Premise
Detective work: Scudder traces the ransom calls, investigates the library where calls were made, discovers the killers' pattern of targeting drug dealers' wives. Uses old-school detective methods. Encounters DEA agent, navigates the criminal underworld, pieces together the killers' MO. TJ becomes his assistant.
Midpoint
Scudder identifies the killers - brothers Ray and Albert - and realizes they've already kidnapped another victim, Lucia, wife of trafficker Yuri. The stakes escalate from solving past murders to preventing an imminent one. The clock is now ticking.
Opposition
The investigation intensifies but the killers stay ahead. Scudder tries to set up surveillance, works with Yuri to prepare for ransom drop. The killers prove brutal and cunning. Scudder's sobriety is tested. Time runs out - they find Lucia's tortured body in a van. Another woman dead despite his efforts.
Collapse
Lucia is found dead, dismembered. Scudder has failed again - just like the innocent woman he shot years ago, another woman is dead because he wasn't good enough. His guilt and past trauma resurface. He fears he's the same failure he always was.
Crisis
Scudder in despair, attends AA meeting, nearly drinks. TJ finds him. Scudder faces his darkness - the belief he can't save anyone. But TJ's faith in him and the memory of the victims push him to try one more time.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Scudder and Kenny storm the killers' house. Violent confrontation - Scudder kills Ray, Kenny shoots Albert. They rescue the girl alive. Scudder finally saves the innocent life he couldn't save before. Kenny gets his revenge. Justice through violence in a world without law.