Aliens vs Predator: Requiem
No one can escape from the aggressive predatory Xenomorphs, and shortly after the Antarctic bloodshed in AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), a crippled Predator ship crash-lands on the dense forest of Gunnison, Colorado. As a result, a vicious Predalien hybrid, along with numerous Stage 1 Xenomorphs, or Face-huggers, scatter in all directions, infecting everyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. Once more, the Earth is a battlefield, as both extraterrestrial species are fighting for supremacy, and the humans become stuck in the middle. Now, the fate of the entire city rests in the hands of Sheriff Eddie Morales, and a handful of residents. Can they ensure the fate of humankind?
Despite a respectable budget of $40.0M, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem became a commercial success, earning $130.3M worldwide—a 226% 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%)
Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007) exhibits strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Colin Strause's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dallas Howard
Kelly O'Brien
Ricky Howard
The Predator (Wolf)
Jesse Salinger
Sheriff Eddie Morales
Molly O'Brien
Main Cast & Characters
Dallas Howard
Played by Steven Pasquale
Recently returned Iraq War veteran struggling to reconnect with his daughter and brother while protecting his town from alien threats.
Kelly O'Brien
Played by Reiko Aylesworth
Tough returning soldier and mother who fights to survive and protect her daughter from the alien invasion.
Ricky Howard
Played by Johnny Lewis
Dallas's younger brother, a high school student and pizza delivery driver with a crush on Jesse.
The Predator (Wolf)
Played by Ian Whyte
Elite Predator warrior sent to clean up the Alien infestation and eliminate all evidence of extraterrestrial activity.
Jesse Salinger
Played by Kristen Hager
Popular high school student who becomes caught up in the alien conflict while dealing with relationship drama.
Sheriff Eddie Morales
Played by John Ortiz
Local sheriff who initially investigates strange occurrences before realizing the true scale of the threat.
Molly O'Brien
Played by Ariel Gade
Kelly's young daughter who must survive the nightmare of Aliens and Predators in her hometown.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Predator ship crash-lands in the Colorado forest, establishing the ordinary world of the small town of Gunnison before the alien threat arrives.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The Predalien emerges and kills the father and son hunting in the forest, marking the first human casualties and the beginning of the alien outbreak in Gunnison.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The Aliens attack the town's power plant and residential areas. Dallas, Kelly, and others witness the carnage firsthand and actively choose to fight for survival rather than hide., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The National Guard arrives, seemingly offering hope, but the situation worsens as the Predalien attacks the hospital maternity ward, dramatically raising the stakes and body count., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The military reveals they plan to bomb the entire town to contain the outbreak. Sheriff Morales sacrifices himself to buy time for the survivors, representing the death of hope for saving the town., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Final battle: Wolf Predator vs Predalien while Dallas leads survivors to the helicopter. The town is destroyed by military strike. Dallas, Kelly, Ricky and a few others escape as Gunnison is obliterated., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Aliens vs Predator: Requiem's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Aliens vs Predator: Requiem against these established plot points, we can identify how Colin Strause utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Aliens vs Predator: Requiem within the action genre.
Colin Strause's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Colin Strause films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Colin Strause filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Colin Strause analyses, see Skyline.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Predator ship crash-lands in the Colorado forest, establishing the ordinary world of the small town of Gunnison before the alien threat arrives.
Theme
Dallas returns from prison and his brother Ricky discusses second chances and redemption, establishing the theme of overcoming past failures to protect what matters.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Gunnison's residents: Dallas the ex-con, Kelly the returning soldier, Ricky the teenager, and the town's dynamics. The facehuggers escape the crashed ship and begin infecting hosts.
Disruption
The Predalien emerges and kills the father and son hunting in the forest, marking the first human casualties and the beginning of the alien outbreak in Gunnison.
Resistance
The Wolf Predator arrives on Earth to clean up the mess. Meanwhile, the town's characters go about their lives unaware of the growing threat. Aliens multiply in the sewers and begin hunting.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Aliens attack the town's power plant and residential areas. Dallas, Kelly, and others witness the carnage firsthand and actively choose to fight for survival rather than hide.
Mirror World
Kelly bonds with Dallas and the survivors, forming a makeshift family unit that represents what they're fighting to protect—human connection in the face of alien horror.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Aliens vs Predator battles throughout Gunnison. Wolf Predator hunts Aliens while the townspeople fight to survive. Spectacular creature combat and horror set pieces.
Midpoint
The National Guard arrives, seemingly offering hope, but the situation worsens as the Predalien attacks the hospital maternity ward, dramatically raising the stakes and body count.
Opposition
The military quarantines the town with orders to contain, not rescue. Aliens swarm the streets. The Wolf Predator faces overwhelming numbers. Survivors struggle to reach evacuation as hope dwindles.
Collapse
The military reveals they plan to bomb the entire town to contain the outbreak. Sheriff Morales sacrifices himself to buy time for the survivors, representing the death of hope for saving the town.
Crisis
The survivors process that their town is doomed and they must escape immediately. Dallas and Kelly struggle with the reality that they can't save everyone, only get a few people out alive.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Final battle: Wolf Predator vs Predalien while Dallas leads survivors to the helicopter. The town is destroyed by military strike. Dallas, Kelly, Ricky and a few others escape as Gunnison is obliterated.
Transformation
The helicopter flies away from the nuclear blast. Dallas, once a directionless ex-con, is now a protector who saved lives. But the government retrieves Predator technology, ensuring the nightmare continues.