Boss Level
A former special forces agent is trapped in a time loop and relives his death over and over again. To escape the terrible situation, he must track down those responsible and stop them.
The film financial setback against its respectable budget of $45.0M, earning $2.0M globally (-96% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unconventional structure within the action genre.
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%)
Boss Level (2021) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Joe Carnahan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Roy Pulver
Jemma Wells
Colonel Clive Ventor
Joe Carnahan
Gemini Man
Guan Yin
Brett
Main Cast & Characters
Roy Pulver
Played by Frank Grillo
A former Delta Force operator trapped in a time loop, reliving the day of his death while trying to save his ex-wife and uncover the conspiracy behind his murder.
Jemma Wells
Played by Naomi Watts
A brilliant scientist and Roy's ex-wife who holds the key to the Osiris Spindle project and the reason for the time loop.
Colonel Clive Ventor
Played by Mel Gibson
The ruthless antagonist and Roy's former commanding officer who seeks to weaponize the Osiris Spindle technology.
Joe Carnahan
Played by Rio Grillo
Roy's son who becomes central to his motivation to break the time loop and survive.
Gemini Man
Played by Selina Lo
One of the deadly assassins hunting Roy throughout each loop, known for his dual machete fighting style.
Guan Yin
Played by Annabelle Wallis
A sword-wielding assassin who repeatedly confronts Roy during the time loop.
Brett
Played by Will Sasso
Roy's ally and helicopter pilot who helps him navigate the deadly time loop scenarios.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Roy Pulver wakes up in his apartment and is immediately attacked by assassins. His "ordinary world" is a violent time loop where he dies repeatedly every day.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Roy fully realizes he's trapped in a time loop and connects it to his ex-wife Jemma's quantum physics research. This gives him purpose beyond mere survival.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Roy makes the active choice to stop merely surviving and instead fight his way to Jemma's lab to end the loop and uncover the conspiracy behind it., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Roy reaches Jemma's laboratory and learns about Colonel Ventor's Osiris Spindle project. False defeat: despite this progress, he's killed again, and stakes raise as he realizes Ventor knows he's coming., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Roy learns that Jemma is killed by Ventor and discovers he has a son he never knew about. The full weight of his failures as a partner and father crashes down - the whiff of death is his family lost., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Roy synthesizes his combat skills, loop knowledge, and newfound emotional purpose. He realizes he must sacrifice himself to break the loop and save his son - combining the warrior he was with the father he needs to be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Boss Level'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 Boss Level against these established plot points, we can identify how Joe Carnahan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Boss Level within the action genre.
Joe Carnahan's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Joe Carnahan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Boss Level takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joe Carnahan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Joe Carnahan analyses, see Copshop, Smokin' Aces and The Grey.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Roy Pulver wakes up in his apartment and is immediately attacked by assassins. His "ordinary world" is a violent time loop where he dies repeatedly every day.
Theme
Through voiceover/flashback, Jemma tells Roy about making better choices and being present in the moment - foreshadowing his need for redemption and personal transformation.
Worldbuilding
Montage of Roy's repeated loop deaths establishes the rules: sword assassin, helicopter, machete twins, etc. We see fragments of his past life with Jemma and his survival instincts as ex-Delta Force.
Disruption
Roy fully realizes he's trapped in a time loop and connects it to his ex-wife Jemma's quantum physics research. This gives him purpose beyond mere survival.
Resistance
Roy experiments with the loop, learning assassin patterns, testing theories, and gathering information. He debates whether to just survive or actively solve the mystery and reach Jemma.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Roy makes the active choice to stop merely surviving and instead fight his way to Jemma's lab to end the loop and uncover the conspiracy behind it.
Mirror World
Deeper memories of Jemma surface, revealing Roy's emotional arc: he was a distant, selfish partner. She represents the life and connection he abandoned but now must fight to restore.
Premise
The fun and games: Roy uses his loop knowledge creatively - memorizing attack patterns, using environment as weapons, employing dark humor. The premise delivers on action-packed time loop scenarios.
Midpoint
Roy reaches Jemma's laboratory and learns about Colonel Ventor's Osiris Spindle project. False defeat: despite this progress, he's killed again, and stakes raise as he realizes Ventor knows he's coming.
Opposition
Ventor and his team adapt to Roy's knowledge. Assassins become harder to defeat. Roy discovers the conspiracy goes deeper. Time pressure mounts as real-world events approach catastrophe.
Collapse
Roy learns that Jemma is killed by Ventor and discovers he has a son he never knew about. The full weight of his failures as a partner and father crashes down - the whiff of death is his family lost.
Crisis
Roy's dark night of the soul. He processes the grief of losing Jemma and the son he abandoned. He confronts whether he deserves redemption or should give up.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Roy synthesizes his combat skills, loop knowledge, and newfound emotional purpose. He realizes he must sacrifice himself to break the loop and save his son - combining the warrior he was with the father he needs to be.
Synthesis
Final battle: Roy fights through all assassins with perfect execution, confronts Ventor, destroys the Osiris Spindle. He sacrifices himself to break the loop and save his son from the timeline.
Transformation
Roy wakes up - loop broken. He's with his son, alive, transformed from selfish lone wolf to present, loving father. The final image mirrors the opening chaos but shows internal peace and redemption.