Bereavement
In 1989, the boy Martin Bristol has congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), a rare neural disorder, in which the patient does not feel pain, heat or cold. He is abducted by the deranged serial-killer Graham Sutter (Brett Rickaby) and brought to the Sutter Meat & Poultry, an abandoned meat-packing plant in Minersville, Pennsylvania, where Graham slaughters young women that he kidnaps. Five years later, the stubborn seventeen year-old teenager Allison Miller loses her parents and moves to her uncle Jonathan Miller's house near the decrepit plant. Jonathan, his wife Karen and their little daughter Wendy welcome Allison, but the teenager does not give much attention to her new family. Allison likes to run alone on the road and she passes by the meat-packing plant and then she meets the mechanic William "Billy" and has a crush on him. Jonathan advises Allison to avoid running near the old factory and Billy, who is a problematic teenager. Allison does not listen to her uncle and brings tragedy to the Miller family.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.0M, Bereavement became a solid performer, earning $10.0M worldwide—a 400% return. The film's distinctive approach found its audience, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Bereavement (2010) exemplifies strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Stevan Mena's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Allison Miller
Martin Bristol
Graham Sutter
Jonathan Miller
Karen Miller
Main Cast & Characters
Allison Miller
Played by Alexandra Daddario
Teenage girl who moves to her uncle's home after her parents' death, discovering dark secrets in the neighboring slaughterhouse
Martin Bristol
Played by Spencer List
Young boy kidnapped and psychologically tortured by a serial killer, forced to witness and participate in murders
Graham Sutter
Played by Brett Rickaby
Psychopathic serial killer who abducts Martin and conditions him through years of violence and manipulation
Jonathan Miller
Played by Michael Biehn
Allison's uncle who takes her in after tragedy, attempting to provide stability while dealing with his own grief
Karen Miller
Played by Nolan Gerard Funk
Jonathan's wife and Allison's aunt, who struggles to connect with her traumatized niece
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Young Martin Bristol plays innocently in 1989, a normal boy despite his rare condition of congenital insensitivity to pain. His loving family watches over him, unaware of the horror about to unfold.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Martin is abducted by Graham Sutter while waiting outside a store. This violent kidnapping destroys his innocent world and sets the horror in motion. In the 1995 timeline, Allison arrives at her new home, still grieving her parents' death.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Allison chooses to explore the abandoned property near her home despite warnings, crossing into dangerous territory. In parallel, young Martin stops resisting Sutter and begins his psychological transformation, accepting his captivity., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Allison discovers definitive proof of the horror next door—evidence of captivity and murder. Simultaneously, Martin is now fully desensitized, assisting Sutter. The stakes escalate; passive observation becomes active danger. False defeat: Allison realizes the monster is real and nearby., 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 (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sutter invades Allison's home and attacks her uncle. Death comes to the doorstep. Allison is hunted. Martin, now a teenager, watches another victim die, his humanity nearly extinguished. All hope seems lost—the all is lost moment with literal death., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 83% of the runtime. Martin makes his choice: he acts to save Allison, turning against Sutter. This synthesis of his lost innocence and remaining humanity creates the breakthrough. Allison finds her survival instinct, moving from victim to fighter., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bereavement's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Bereavement against these established plot points, we can identify how Stevan Mena utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bereavement within the crime genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Martin Bristol plays innocently in 1989, a normal boy despite his rare condition of congenital insensitivity to pain. His loving family watches over him, unaware of the horror about to unfold.
Theme
Martin's parents discuss his condition and how he doesn't understand consequences because he can't feel pain. This establishes the film's theme: innocence corrupted, the inability to feel (physically and emotionally), and how suffering shapes or breaks us.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to 1989 timeline and 1995 timeline. We meet Graham Sutter, the isolated butcher with a dark secret, and later Allison Miller, a troubled teen with a tragic past moving to live with her Uncle Jonathan in Pennsylvania. The dual narrative structure is established.
Disruption
Martin is abducted by Graham Sutter while waiting outside a store. This violent kidnapping destroys his innocent world and sets the horror in motion. In the 1995 timeline, Allison arrives at her new home, still grieving her parents' death.
Resistance
Martin is imprisoned in Sutter's slaughterhouse, forced to witness torture and murder. Sutter begins conditioning him, exploiting his inability to feel pain. Meanwhile, Allison struggles to adjust to her new school and home, befriending neighbor William and resisting her new reality.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Allison chooses to explore the abandoned property near her home despite warnings, crossing into dangerous territory. In parallel, young Martin stops resisting Sutter and begins his psychological transformation, accepting his captivity.
Mirror World
Allison's relationship with William deepens. He represents normalcy, healing, and emotional connection—everything Martin is being systematically denied. William becomes the thematic mirror showing what healthy development and feeling look like.
Premise
The horror premise unfolds: Allison investigates strange occurrences while Martin becomes increasingly complicit in Sutter's murders. Cross-cutting between timelines builds dread as we realize the narratives will converge. Allison sees a face in the window of the slaughterhouse.
Midpoint
Allison discovers definitive proof of the horror next door—evidence of captivity and murder. Simultaneously, Martin is now fully desensitized, assisting Sutter. The stakes escalate; passive observation becomes active danger. False defeat: Allison realizes the monster is real and nearby.
Opposition
Sutter becomes aware of Allison's snooping. She's increasingly in danger but no one believes her. Martin witnesses Sutter's violence intensify. The killer's paranoia grows. Allison's uncle dismisses her concerns. The walls close in from both timelines.
Collapse
Sutter invades Allison's home and attacks her uncle. Death comes to the doorstep. Allison is hunted. Martin, now a teenager, watches another victim die, his humanity nearly extinguished. All hope seems lost—the all is lost moment with literal death.
Crisis
Allison flees through the property in terror, processing the horror. Martin faces his moment of crisis: remain Sutter's creature or reclaim his humanity. The dark night where both characters face who they've become versus who they could be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Martin makes his choice: he acts to save Allison, turning against Sutter. This synthesis of his lost innocence and remaining humanity creates the breakthrough. Allison finds her survival instinct, moving from victim to fighter.
Synthesis
The violent finale: confrontation in the slaughterhouse. Martin and Allison versus Sutter. The past and present timelines converge in blood and fire. The resolution of both narrative threads through brutal combat and sacrifice.
Transformation
The closing image reveals Martin's fate and Allison's survival, but at tremendous cost. The transformation is complete but tragic—survival doesn't mean healing. The final shot mirrors the opening innocence but shows irreversible damage. A dark transformation.