After
Tessa Young is a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart. Entering her first semester of college, Tessa's guarded world opens up when she meets Hardin Scott, a mysterious and brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself -- and what she wants out of life.
Despite its small-scale budget of $14.0M, After became a solid performer, earning $69.5M worldwide—a 396% return. The film's unconventional structure engaged audiences, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
After (2019) exemplifies strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Jenny Gage's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tessa Young
Hardin Scott
Carol Young
Landon Gibson
Steph Jones
Noah Porter
Main Cast & Characters
Tessa Young
Played by Josephine Langford
A dedicated college freshman with plans for her future who falls into a turbulent relationship with a mysterious bad boy.
Hardin Scott
Played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin
A brooding British literature student with a troubled past and reckless behavior who challenges Tessa's worldview.
Carol Young
Played by Selma Blair
Tessa's overprotective, controlling mother who disapproves of Hardin and wants to maintain control over her daughter's life.
Landon Gibson
Played by Shane Paul McGhie
Hardin's kind-hearted stepbrother who becomes Tessa's supportive friend and confidant.
Steph Jones
Played by Khadijha Red Thunder
Tessa's rebellious roommate who introduces her to Hardin's social circle.
Noah Porter
Played by Dylan Arnold
Tessa's loyal high school boyfriend who represents her safe, planned life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tessa arrives at college with her mother and boyfriend Noah. She's the perfect, sheltered good girl with color-coded schedules, following her mother's strict plans for her future.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when At a party Steph drags her to, Tessa encounters Hardin Scott—a brooding, tattooed rebel who immediately challenges and unsettles her. He's rude, mocking her buttoned-up appearance, creating immediate conflict and fascination.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Tessa makes an active choice to go to the lake with Hardin and his friends, lying to her mother and Noah. She chooses to enter Hardin's world despite knowing it violates everything expected of her., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Tessa and Hardin finally sleep together after she breaks up with Noah. It's a false victory—they seem to have overcome all obstacles and can be together, but Hardin's secret bet will destroy everything. Stakes raise: she's all in now., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tessa discovers the truth: Hardin made a bet to take her virginity. Everything was a lie. Her transformation, her rebellion, her first love—all based on his cruel game. The death of innocence and trust. Complete emotional devastation., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Hardin reveals his real feelings weren't fake—he actually fell in love with her. New information: the bet was real but so was his transformation. Tessa must decide who she is independent of both her mother's plan and Hardin's influence., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
After's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping After against these established plot points, we can identify how Jenny Gage utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish After within the romance genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tessa arrives at college with her mother and boyfriend Noah. She's the perfect, sheltered good girl with color-coded schedules, following her mother's strict plans for her future.
Theme
Tessa's new roommate Steph casually mentions "you can't plan everything" and encourages Tessa to experience life beyond her rigid expectations. The theme: discovering who you really are versus who you're supposed to be.
Worldbuilding
Tessa settles into college life. We see her structured routine, her long-distance relationship with Noah, her controlling mother, her literary ambitions, and her new roommate's bohemian lifestyle that contrasts with everything Tessa knows.
Disruption
At a party Steph drags her to, Tessa encounters Hardin Scott—a brooding, tattooed rebel who immediately challenges and unsettles her. He's rude, mocking her buttoned-up appearance, creating immediate conflict and fascination.
Resistance
Tessa debates this new world. She keeps running into Hardin in literature class where they spar intellectually. She's drawn to him despite her better judgment and Noah's existence. Her friends encourage exploration while her mother demands restraint.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tessa makes an active choice to go to the lake with Hardin and his friends, lying to her mother and Noah. She chooses to enter Hardin's world despite knowing it violates everything expected of her.
Mirror World
Hardin opens up to Tessa, showing his vulnerable side and his passion for literature. Their intellectual and emotional connection deepens. He represents the authentic life she's been missing—the Mirror World of passion versus control.
Premise
The promise of the premise: forbidden romance. Tessa and Hardin grow closer through literary discussions, late-night confessions, and stolen moments. She explores a world of emotion and spontaneity while still clinging to her old life with Noah.
Midpoint
Tessa and Hardin finally sleep together after she breaks up with Noah. It's a false victory—they seem to have overcome all obstacles and can be together, but Hardin's secret bet will destroy everything. Stakes raise: she's all in now.
Opposition
Tessa's mother discovers the relationship and threatens her. Tessa and Hardin fight repeatedly as his jealousy and anger issues surface. Her internship is jeopardized. Hardin's friends act suspicious. The relationship becomes increasingly volatile and difficult.
Collapse
Tessa discovers the truth: Hardin made a bet to take her virginity. Everything was a lie. Her transformation, her rebellion, her first love—all based on his cruel game. The death of innocence and trust. Complete emotional devastation.
Crisis
Tessa processes the betrayal alone, heartbroken and humiliated. She contemplates returning to her old life but realizes she can't go back to who she was. Dark night of the soul: who is she if not the good girl, but also not Hardin's girlfriend?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hardin reveals his real feelings weren't fake—he actually fell in love with her. New information: the bet was real but so was his transformation. Tessa must decide who she is independent of both her mother's plan and Hardin's influence.
Synthesis
Tessa confronts her mother, claiming her independence. She pursues her internship on her own terms. She processes her feelings for Hardin while establishing her own identity. The finale resolves her internal conflict about control versus passion.
Transformation
Tessa reads Hardin's personal journal where he's poured out his feelings. Unlike the opening where she followed others' plans, she now chooses her own path—returning to him, but on her terms, as her authentic self.