Burke & Hare
Two 19th-century opportunists become serial killers so that they can maintain their profitable business supplying cadavers to an anatomist.
The film financial setback against its limited budget of $10.0M, earning $4.8M globally (-52% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the comedy 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%)
Burke & Hare (2010) showcases precise dramatic framework, characteristic of John Landis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
William Burke
William Hare
Ginny Hawkins
Lucky
Dr. Robert Knox
Captain McLintock
Main Cast & Characters
William Burke
Played by Simon Pegg
An Irish immigrant who becomes a serial killer supplying corpses to anatomy schools in 1828 Edinburgh.
William Hare
Played by Andy Serkis
Burke's partner in crime, a cunning opportunist who helps run the murderous corpse-selling scheme.
Ginny Hawkins
Played by Isla Fisher
An aspiring actress and Burke's romantic interest who dreams of performing on stage.
Lucky
Played by Jessica Hynes
Hare's wife and boarding house owner, a tough pragmatic woman who knows about the murders.
Dr. Robert Knox
Played by Tom Wilkinson
An ambitious anatomist who pays for fresh corpses without asking questions about their origin.
Captain McLintock
Played by Ronnie Corbett
A militia captain investigating the suspicious deaths and determined to catch the killers.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Burke and Hare are failed entrepreneurs in 1828 Edinburgh, deeply in debt and facing eviction from their lodging house. Their status quo is one of poverty, desperation, and failed schemes.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when A tenant dies naturally in Hare's boarding house. They discover Dr. Knox pays handsomely for fresh cadavers—seven pounds ten. This presents an unexpected opportunity to escape their debts.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Burke and Hare make the conscious decision to commit their first murder when bodies run out. They cross from grave robbing to active killing, entering the dark business of murder for profit., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Burke and Hare are arrested and exposed. Their empire collapses, friendships die, Ginny discovers the truth about Burke's crimes, and they face execution. The "whiff of death" is literal—their victims and their own impending doom., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Hare makes a deal to testify against Burke to save himself. This betrayal forces Burke to face his fate alone, but also clarifies the truth about their partnership and individual responsibility., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Burke & Hare's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Burke & Hare against these established plot points, we can identify how John Landis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Burke & Hare within the comedy genre.
John Landis's Structural Approach
Among the 13 John Landis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Burke & Hare takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Landis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Landis analyses, see Coming to America, The Blues Brothers and ¡Three Amigos!.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Burke and Hare are failed entrepreneurs in 1828 Edinburgh, deeply in debt and facing eviction from their lodging house. Their status quo is one of poverty, desperation, and failed schemes.
Theme
Dr. Knox states that progress requires bodies for anatomical study, suggesting the theme: moral compromise in the pursuit of ambition and survival. The question becomes how far one will go for success.
Worldbuilding
Establishes 1828 Edinburgh with its class divisions, the competing anatomy schools, Burke's relationship with Ginny the actress, Hare's marriage to Lucky, their debts, and the desperate economic circumstances driving their choices.
Disruption
A tenant dies naturally in Hare's boarding house. They discover Dr. Knox pays handsomely for fresh cadavers—seven pounds ten. This presents an unexpected opportunity to escape their debts.
Resistance
Burke and Hare debate the ethics of selling the body, initially just using naturally deceased tenants. They navigate their first dealings with Dr. Knox, learning the trade and testing whether this scheme can work.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Burke and Hare make the conscious decision to commit their first murder when bodies run out. They cross from grave robbing to active killing, entering the dark business of murder for profit.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the murder business: elaborate schemes to lure victims, close calls with authorities, growing wealth, funding Ginny's theatrical production, and the dark comedy of their increasingly brazen crimes.
Opposition
Pressure mounts: competing resurrectionist Moran becomes suspicious, authorities grow closer to the truth, Ginny's play creates public exposure, the partnership between Burke and Hare strains, and their crimes become sloppier and more desperate.
Collapse
Burke and Hare are arrested and exposed. Their empire collapses, friendships die, Ginny discovers the truth about Burke's crimes, and they face execution. The "whiff of death" is literal—their victims and their own impending doom.
Crisis
In prison awaiting trial and execution, Burke and Hare face the consequences of their choices. Burke grapples with losing Ginny and confronting the moral horror of what they've done. Dark night of reckoning.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hare makes a deal to testify against Burke to save himself. This betrayal forces Burke to face his fate alone, but also clarifies the truth about their partnership and individual responsibility.
Synthesis
The trial, Burke's execution, and the aftermath. Justice is served but complicated—Dr. Knox escapes punishment, Hare goes free but is hounded, and Burke faces his end with a degree of acceptance and dark humor.
Transformation
Burke's body is publicly dissected by Dr. Knox's rival, his skin made into souvenirs—he becomes the very commodity he traded in. The ironic final image shows the transformation complete: from seller to product.