Antebellum

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening on a Civil War-era plantation where enslaved woman Eden picks cotton under brutal Confederate oversight, establishing what appears to be an antebellum world of absolute oppression.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Eden witnesses the horrific execution of a woman trying to escape, branded and burned alive, demonstrating the fatal consequences of resistance.. 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 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Veronica is kidnapped from her hotel by white supremacists. The devastating reveal: there is no past timeline—Eden IS Veronica, held captive at a present-day plantation recreation operated by racist militants., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Julia is murdered by the overseers after a failed resistance attempt, destroying Eden's closest ally and leaving her utterly alone in the nightmare., demonstrates 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 79% of the runtime. Eden executes her escape plan: kills Captain Jasper and other tormentors, frees remaining captives, burns down the plantation infrastructure, and fights her way to freedom using both cunning and violence., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.