Amityville: The Awakening
Belle, her little sister, and her comatose twin brother move into a new house with their single mother Joan in order to save money to help pay for her brother's expensive healthcare. But when strange phenomena begin to occur in the house including the miraculous recovery of her brother, Belle begins to suspect her Mother isn't telling her everything and soon realizes they just moved into the infamous Amityville house.
The film earned $8.5M at the global box office.
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%)
Amityville: The Awakening (2017) reveals precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Franck Khalfoun's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Belle Walker
Joan Walker
James Walker
Juliet Walker
Terrence
Marissa
Main Cast & Characters
Belle Walker
Played by Bella Thorne
A teenage girl who moves with her family to the infamous Amityville house to care for her twin brother in a vegetative state, only to discover the house's dark powers.
Joan Walker
Played by Jennifer Jason Leigh
Belle's mother who moves the family to Amityville seeking affordable care for her comatose son, initially dismissive of supernatural warnings.
James Walker
Played by Cameron Monaghan
Belle's twin brother who lies in a coma after a tragic accident, whose mysterious recovery becomes central to the house's malevolent influence.
Juliet Walker
Played by Mckenna Grace
Belle's younger sister who is sensitive to the supernatural presence in the house and experiences disturbing visions.
Terrence
Played by Thomas Mann
Belle's friend and love interest who is knowledgeable about the Amityville house's dark history and tries to warn Belle about the danger.
Marissa
Played by Taylor Spreitler
Belle's skeptical friend who dismisses the supernatural legends but becomes drawn into the house's horror.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Belle and her family arrive at their new home in Amityville with her twin brother James in a vegetative state. The family is broken, exhausted, struggling with medical bills and James's condition.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when James's hand moves on its own. The comatose twin shows the first sign of impossible activity, suggesting something supernatural is occurring in the house.. 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to James (comatose twin) opens his eyes and appears to be recovering. Belle chooses to believe her brother is genuinely getting better and commits to helping him recover, entering a world where she must confront what's really happening., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Belle discovers the horrifying truth: James isn't actually recovered - he's possessed by the demon that inhabited Ronald DeFeo Jr. The "miracle" is revealed as a demonic takeover. Stakes raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Joan is killed by possessed James. Belle's mother - who refused to accept reality - dies because of her denial. The family is shattered and Belle must face the demon alone., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 69 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Belle accepts the truth: her brother died in the accident, and keeping his body alive allowed the demon to enter. She realizes she must let him go to save herself and Juliet. Faith means accepting death, not denying it., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Amityville: The Awakening's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Amityville: The Awakening against these established plot points, we can identify how Franck Khalfoun utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Amityville: The Awakening within the horror genre.
Franck Khalfoun's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Franck Khalfoun films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Amityville: The Awakening takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Franck Khalfoun filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Franck Khalfoun analyses, see P2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Belle and her family arrive at their new home in Amityville with her twin brother James in a vegetative state. The family is broken, exhausted, struggling with medical bills and James's condition.
Theme
Belle's mother Joan says, "Sometimes you have to have faith that things will get better," establishing the theme of faith versus denial, and the cost of refusing to let go.
Worldbuilding
Belle explores the creepy house, meets neighbor James who tells her about the Amityville murders. We learn the family moved here because the house was cheap. Joan is in denial about James's condition, Belle feels guilty, and younger sister Juliet is withdrawn.
Disruption
James's hand moves on its own. The comatose twin shows the first sign of impossible activity, suggesting something supernatural is occurring in the house.
Resistance
Belle investigates the strange occurrences while trying to rationalize them. She debates whether to believe in the supernatural. Her mother insists James is improving naturally. Belle researches the house's history and grows closer to neighbor James.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
James (comatose twin) opens his eyes and appears to be recovering. Belle chooses to believe her brother is genuinely getting better and commits to helping him recover, entering a world where she must confront what's really happening.
Mirror World
Belle and neighbor James grow closer as he helps her understand the house's history. He represents acceptance and truth, contrasting with her mother's denial. He tells her the truth even when it's frightening.
Premise
James seems to recover miraculously - walking, talking, interacting. Belle experiences the joy of having her brother back while increasingly disturbing signs suggest something is wrong. James acts strangely, violence occurs, and the house's evil presence grows.
Midpoint
Belle discovers the horrifying truth: James isn't actually recovered - he's possessed by the demon that inhabited Ronald DeFeo Jr. The "miracle" is revealed as a demonic takeover. Stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
The possessed James becomes increasingly violent and dangerous. Belle tries to convince her mother but Joan refuses to see the truth. The demon's power grows stronger. Belle is isolated as no one believes her, and James hunts the family.
Collapse
Joan is killed by possessed James. Belle's mother - who refused to accept reality - dies because of her denial. The family is shattered and Belle must face the demon alone.
Crisis
Belle grieves and processes the loss of both her mother and the realization that her real brother is gone. She faces her darkest moment, alone with her possessed twin and younger sister to protect.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Belle accepts the truth: her brother died in the accident, and keeping his body alive allowed the demon to enter. She realizes she must let him go to save herself and Juliet. Faith means accepting death, not denying it.
Synthesis
Belle confronts the possessed James and unplugs his life support, releasing her brother's body and banishing the demon. She fights to save Juliet and escape the house with the truth finally acknowledged.
Transformation
Belle and Juliet leave the house, but Belle realizes she herself has been possessed. The demon won after all. Belle has transformed from innocent to corrupted - she learned to accept reality, but too late.