Beastly
A modern-day take on the "Beauty and the Beast" tale where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love.
Despite a mid-range budget of $17.0M, Beastly became a financial success, earning $43.2M worldwide—a 154% 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%)
Beastly (2011) showcases strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Daniel Barnz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 26 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Kyle Kingson
Lindy Taylor
Will Fratalli
Kendra Hilferty
Rob Kingson
Zola Davies
Main Cast & Characters
Kyle Kingson
Played by Alex Pettyfer
A wealthy, vain high school student cursed to become physically hideous until he finds true love
Lindy Taylor
Played by Vanessa Hudgens
A smart, compassionate student who sees beyond Kyle's disfigured appearance to his true character
Will Fratalli
Played by Neil Patrick Harris
A blind tutor hired to educate Kyle, who becomes his mentor and friend during his transformation
Kendra Hilferty
Played by Mary-Kate Olsen
A vengeful goth witch who curses Kyle after he publicly humiliates her at school
Rob Kingson
Played by Peter Krause
Kyle's shallow, career-obsessed father who cares more about image than his son's wellbeing
Zola Davies
Played by Lisa Gay Hamilton
The Kingson family's compassionate Jamaican housekeeper who stays to care for Kyle during his curse
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Kyle Kingson, a wealthy and arrogant high school student, delivers a superficial speech about beauty and image, establishing his shallow worldview and privileged status.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Kendra curses Kyle, transforming him into a scarred, tattooed beast after he publicly humiliates her at a party, declaring he has one year to find true love.. 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Kyle chooses to bring Lindy to live with him after her father gets into trouble, offering protection in exchange for her staying. This is his active decision to pursue connection despite his appearance., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Kyle and Lindy share their first kiss in the greenhouse, a false victory where it seems love is blossoming, but Kyle hasn't revealed his true identity, raising the stakes of his deception., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lindy discovers Kyle's true identity and feels betrayed by his deception. She leaves, and Kyle believes he has lost his only chance at love and breaking the curse. His hope dies., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Kyle realizes he must fight for love rather than hide in shame. He rushes to find Lindy as she's in danger, choosing courage and self-sacrifice over self-protection., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Beastly'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 Beastly against these established plot points, we can identify how Daniel Barnz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Beastly within the romance genre.
Daniel Barnz's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Daniel Barnz films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Beastly represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Daniel Barnz filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Daniel Barnz analyses, see Won't Back Down.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Kyle Kingson, a wealthy and arrogant high school student, delivers a superficial speech about beauty and image, establishing his shallow worldview and privileged status.
Theme
Kendra the witch warns Kyle that beauty is more than skin deep, foreshadowing the central theme about inner versus outer beauty and true transformation.
Worldbuilding
Kyle's shallow world is established: his distant father, superficial friends, cruelty to outsiders like Kendra, and fleeting interest in Lindy, a girl who reads and values substance.
Disruption
Kendra curses Kyle, transforming him into a scarred, tattooed beast after he publicly humiliates her at a party, declaring he has one year to find true love.
Resistance
Kyle resists his new reality, lashing out at his tutor Will and maid Zola. His father hides him away in a Brooklyn townhouse, abandoning him emotionally. Kyle debates whether change is possible.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kyle chooses to bring Lindy to live with him after her father gets into trouble, offering protection in exchange for her staying. This is his active decision to pursue connection despite his appearance.
Mirror World
Lindy arrives and Kyle (now calling himself Hunter) begins building a genuine relationship with her, one based on conversation, shared interests, and emotional honesty rather than appearance.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Kyle and Lindy grow closer through books, conversations, and shared moments. He creates a garden, they explore the city, and he learns what real connection feels like.
Midpoint
Kyle and Lindy share their first kiss in the greenhouse, a false victory where it seems love is blossoming, but Kyle hasn't revealed his true identity, raising the stakes of his deception.
Opposition
Kyle's insecurity grows as the deadline approaches. Lindy wants to see her father. Kyle's lies compound. His fear of rejection intensifies as he realizes he must reveal the truth to break the curse.
Collapse
Lindy discovers Kyle's true identity and feels betrayed by his deception. She leaves, and Kyle believes he has lost his only chance at love and breaking the curse. His hope dies.
Crisis
Kyle falls into despair, believing he's unworthy of love and that his transformation was deserved. He confronts his darkest beliefs about himself while time runs out on the curse.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kyle realizes he must fight for love rather than hide in shame. He rushes to find Lindy as she's in danger, choosing courage and self-sacrifice over self-protection.
Synthesis
Kyle saves Lindy from danger, confessing his genuine love without expectation of reciprocation. Lindy sees his inner transformation and declares her love, breaking the curse through true acceptance.
Transformation
Kyle, restored to human form but fundamentally changed internally, reunites with Lindy. Unlike the opening, he now values substance over superficiality, having learned that true beauty comes from within.