Along Came a Spider
After the harrowing death of his partner, forensic psychologist and best-selling author Alex Cross cannot forgive himself and has retreated to the peace of retirement. But when a brilliant criminal kidnaps a senator's young daughter, he is lured back into action as the kidnapper wants to deal with Alex personally. Teamed with Jezzie Flanigan, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect the missing girl, Alex follows a serpentine trail of clues that leads him to a stunning discovery - the kidnapper wants more than just ransom.
Working with a respectable budget of $60.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $105.2M in global revenue (+75% profit margin).
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%)
Along Came a Spider (2001) demonstrates meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Lee Tamahori's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alex Cross
Gary Soneji
Jezzie Flannigan
Megan Rose
Kyle Craig
Main Cast & Characters
Alex Cross
Played by Morgan Freeman
A forensic psychologist haunted by his partner's death who gets drawn into a twisted kidnapping case involving a senator's daughter.
Gary Soneji
Played by Michael Wincott
A cunning, narcissistic kidnapper and murderer who orchestrates an elaborate plot to achieve fame and notoriety.
Jezzie Flannigan
Played by Monica Potter
A Secret Service agent assigned to protect the kidnapped girl who becomes Cross's investigative partner and potential love interest.
Megan Rose
Played by Mika Boorem
The young daughter of a senator who is kidnapped from her elite private school in an audacious daylight abduction.
Kyle Craig
Played by Jay O. Sanders
An FBI agent and Alex Cross's friend who assists in the investigation of the kidnapping case.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alex Cross works undercover with his partner on a dangerous sting operation, establishing him as a skilled detective in his element.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Gary Soneji, a teacher at an elite private school, kidnaps Megan Rose, the daughter of a prominent senator, in a meticulously planned abduction.. 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.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat They locate what they believe is Soneji's hideout and find Megan Rose alive, but Soneji escapes. False victory - the rescue seems successful but Cross senses something is wrong with the case., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Cross discovers that Jezzie Flannigan, his trusted partner, is the true mastermind behind the kidnapping. She used Soneji as a patsy. The betrayal mirrors his original trauma - another partner lost to deception and death., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Cross confronts Jezzie at the ransom exchange. He outmaneuvers her plan, saves Megan, and brings Jezzie to justice. He applies his skills without the paralyzing guilt, accepting he did what he could., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Along Came a Spider's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Along Came a Spider against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Tamahori utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Along Came a Spider within the crime genre.
Lee Tamahori's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Lee Tamahori films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Along Came a Spider takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Lee Tamahori filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Lee Tamahori analyses, see The Edge, xXx: State of the Union and Next.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alex Cross works undercover with his partner on a dangerous sting operation, establishing him as a skilled detective in his element.
Theme
Cross's partner tells him "You can't save everyone" before the operation goes wrong - the thematic question about control, guilt, and accepting human limitations.
Worldbuilding
The sting operation goes tragically wrong, Cross's partner dies in his arms. Cross retreats from active duty, consumed by guilt, living in isolation and refusing cases.
Disruption
Gary Soneji, a teacher at an elite private school, kidnaps Megan Rose, the daughter of a prominent senator, in a meticulously planned abduction.
Resistance
Soneji contacts Cross directly, demanding he work the case. Cross resists returning to active duty, haunted by his partner's death, but the kidnapper's call is designed specifically to pull him back.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Cross and Jezzie investigate Soneji's background, decode his messages, and track his movements. The detective work and cat-and-mouse game with the kidnapper unfolds as they get closer to understanding his motives.
Midpoint
They locate what they believe is Soneji's hideout and find Megan Rose alive, but Soneji escapes. False victory - the rescue seems successful but Cross senses something is wrong with the case.
Opposition
Cross discovers inconsistencies in the evidence. Megan reveals details that don't match the official story. Cross realizes there's a larger conspiracy at play. Trust erodes as he questions everyone involved.
Collapse
Cross discovers that Jezzie Flannigan, his trusted partner, is the true mastermind behind the kidnapping. She used Soneji as a patsy. The betrayal mirrors his original trauma - another partner lost to deception and death.
Crisis
Cross processes the double betrayal and manipulation. He must confront that his judgment failed again, that he trusted the wrong person, deepening his guilt and self-doubt about his ability to protect others.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Cross confronts Jezzie at the ransom exchange. He outmaneuvers her plan, saves Megan, and brings Jezzie to justice. He applies his skills without the paralyzing guilt, accepting he did what he could.