Beautiful Creatures
Ethan Wate just wants to get to know Lena Duchannes better, but unbeknownst to him, Lena has strange powers. As Lena's 16th birthday approaches she might decide her fate, to be good or evil. A choice which will impact her relationship forever.
Working with a respectable budget of $60.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $60.1M in global revenue (+0% 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%)
Beautiful Creatures (2013) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Richard LaGravenese's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 4 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ethan Wate
Lena Duchannes
Macon Ravenwood
Amma
Ridley Duchannes
Sarafine Duchannes
Link
Main Cast & Characters
Ethan Wate
Played by Alden Ehrenreich
A bookish small-town teenager who dreams of escaping Gatlin and becomes entangled in the supernatural world of Casters when he falls for Lena.
Lena Duchannes
Played by Alice Englert
A powerful Caster girl approaching her Claiming, torn between light and dark magic while struggling with her family's curse and her love for Ethan.
Macon Ravenwood
Played by Jeremy Irons
Lena's enigmatic uncle and guardian, an Incubus who protects his family and guides Lena through her supernatural heritage.
Amma
Played by Viola Davis
Ethan's fiercely protective housekeeper and spiritual guide who possesses Seer abilities and serves as the town's moral anchor.
Ridley Duchannes
Played by Emmy Rossum
Lena's seductive Dark Caster cousin who was claimed by darkness and tempts others with her siren-like powers.
Sarafine Duchannes
Played by Emma Thompson
The primary antagonist and Lena's mother, a powerful Dark Caster who seeks to claim Lena for darkness and possesses Mrs. Lincoln.
Link
Played by Thomas Mann
Ethan's loyal best friend and bandmate who provides comic relief and unwavering support despite the supernatural chaos.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ethan Wate narrates his desperate desire to escape the suffocating small town of Gatlin, South Carolina. He feels trapped in a monotonous life, dreaming of leaving for anywhere else.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Lena Duchannes arrives at school—the mysterious girl from Ethan's dreams. She's the niece of reclusive Macon Ravenwood, and the town immediately labels her as strange and dangerous. Ethan is drawn to her despite warnings.. 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 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Ethan makes the active choice to pursue a relationship with Lena after she reveals she's a Caster (witch). Despite learning about the dangerous supernatural world and Lena's warning that "people around me get hurt," Ethan chooses to stay by her side., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Ethan and Lena discover the truth about their ancestors. Ethan's ancestor Ethan Carter Wate betrayed Lena's ancestor Genevieve, who turned Dark trying to resurrect him. This pattern seems to doom their relationship—history may be repeating itself. Stakes raised: Lena's 16th birthday is approaching., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, On Lena's 16th birthday, Sarafine forces a choice: if Lena chooses Light, Ethan will die. During the battle, Macon Ravenwood sacrifices himself to save Ethan and is killed. Lena loses her beloved uncle—a literal death and the loss of her protector and father figure., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Ethan synthesizes the lesson: true love means sacrifice and giving someone the freedom to choose, even if it costs you everything. He realizes what he must do—give Lena the one thing that will allow her true choice, even though it means losing her., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Beautiful Creatures's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Beautiful Creatures against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard LaGravenese utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Beautiful Creatures within the fantasy genre.
Richard LaGravenese's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Richard LaGravenese films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Beautiful Creatures takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard LaGravenese filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Richard LaGravenese analyses, see Freedom Writers, P.S. I Love You and Living Out Loud.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ethan Wate narrates his desperate desire to escape the suffocating small town of Gatlin, South Carolina. He feels trapped in a monotonous life, dreaming of leaving for anywhere else.
Theme
Amma tells Ethan, "There are no coincidences, only fate." This establishes the film's exploration of destiny versus free will, and whether we can choose our own path or are bound by what we're born to be.
Worldbuilding
Ethan's ordinary world in conservative Gatlin is established: his mother died, he lives with his withdrawn father and protective housekeeper Amma, he's bored with small-town life and judgmental classmates. He experiences recurring dreams of a mysterious girl he can't save.
Disruption
Lena Duchannes arrives at school—the mysterious girl from Ethan's dreams. She's the niece of reclusive Macon Ravenwood, and the town immediately labels her as strange and dangerous. Ethan is drawn to her despite warnings.
Resistance
Ethan pursues Lena despite social pressure and supernatural warning signs. Windows shatter, weather changes around her emotions. Lena resists getting close to him, warning him away. Ethan debates whether to follow his attraction or heed the warnings about danger.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ethan makes the active choice to pursue a relationship with Lena after she reveals she's a Caster (witch). Despite learning about the dangerous supernatural world and Lena's warning that "people around me get hurt," Ethan chooses to stay by her side.
Mirror World
Lena fully opens up to Ethan about her world. She explains the Caster curse: on her 16th birthday she'll be "claimed" for Light or Dark, losing her free will. Their romance represents the theme—fighting against predetermined fate to choose your own destiny.
Premise
Ethan and Lena explore their supernatural romance. He experiences her magical world, meets her Caster family, and they uncover a historical connection between their ancestors. They fall deeper in love while trying to find a way to break Lena's curse and give her choice over her fate.
Midpoint
False defeat: Ethan and Lena discover the truth about their ancestors. Ethan's ancestor Ethan Carter Wate betrayed Lena's ancestor Genevieve, who turned Dark trying to resurrect him. This pattern seems to doom their relationship—history may be repeating itself. Stakes raised: Lena's 16th birthday is approaching.
Opposition
Dark Caster Sarafine (possessing Lena's mother) actively works to turn Lena Dark. Lena struggles with her growing dark powers and temptation. The town turns violent against the Ravenwoods. Macon forbids Ethan from seeing Lena. Lena begins to believe she's destined to go Dark and pushes Ethan away to protect him.
Collapse
On Lena's 16th birthday, Sarafine forces a choice: if Lena chooses Light, Ethan will die. During the battle, Macon Ravenwood sacrifices himself to save Ethan and is killed. Lena loses her beloved uncle—a literal death and the loss of her protector and father figure.
Crisis
Lena grieves Macon's death in darkness. She pulls away from Ethan emotionally, devastated by loss and guilt. She believes everyone she loves will be hurt. Ethan realizes that even love may not be enough to save her from darkness—she must choose for herself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ethan synthesizes the lesson: true love means sacrifice and giving someone the freedom to choose, even if it costs you everything. He realizes what he must do—give Lena the one thing that will allow her true choice, even though it means losing her.
Synthesis
Ethan confronts the choice before him. To save Lena from being claimed and give her free will, he makes the ultimate sacrifice. Using Genevieve's spell book, he offers himself. Lena uses her powers to erase Ethan's memories of her and their love, breaking the curse and claiming herself—neither Light nor Dark.
Transformation
Ethan, with no memory of Lena, sees her at the library. He feels inexplicably drawn to her—the same connection, suggesting fate cannot be completely erased. Lena watches him, having chosen her own path through love and sacrifice. Both are transformed: Ethan from wanting to escape to finding meaning, Lena from being controlled by fate to claiming her own identity.