Carved
A group of survivors finds themselves trapped in a historical reenactment village on Halloween, where they must unite to battle a sentient, vengeful pumpkin.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes A group of strangers gather at a remote farmhouse for what appears to be a Halloween celebration. The opening establishes the ordinary world before supernatural terror intrudes - people carving pumpkins, sharing stories, seeking connection during the holiday season.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The carved pumpkin creature comes to life. The first violent attack occurs, shattering the festive atmosphere and trapping the group in the farmhouse. What began as a celebration becomes a nightmare - the supernatural threat is real and deadly.. At 10% 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 20% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The group makes the active choice to fight back rather than simply hide. They arm themselves with makeshift weapons and decide to hunt the creature, transitioning from victims to would-be hunters. This irreversible decision launches them into direct confrontation., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 42% of the runtime—significantly early, compressing the first half. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: The group believes they've destroyed the creature, only to discover it regenerates or there are multiple entities. The stakes raise dramatically - what they thought would work fails. The rules change, and they realize the threat is far worse than imagined., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (62% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The emotional leader or most capable survivor is killed, or the last hope of escape is destroyed. A "whiff of death" - perhaps the building catches fire, or the creature corners the final survivors. The darkest moment where all seems lost and death appears inevitable., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 66% of the runtime. The final confrontation. Survivors execute their plan, using what they've learned about the creature and themselves. The climactic battle where the thematic resolution plays out through action - characters must face their sins, make sacrifices, or embrace transformation to survive., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Carved'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 Carved against these established plot points, we can identify how the filmmaker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Carved within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Lake Placid and Cat Ballou.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
A group of strangers gather at a remote farmhouse for what appears to be a Halloween celebration. The opening establishes the ordinary world before supernatural terror intrudes - people carving pumpkins, sharing stories, seeking connection during the holiday season.
Theme
A character remarks about the old legend: "What we carve into things has a way of carving back into us." This suggests the film's theme about how violence and cruelty we inflict returns to haunt us, and the masks we wear versus our true nature.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the ensemble cast, their relationships, and tensions. We learn about the location's dark history involving a vengeful spirit. Characters are established with their flaws, secrets, and interpersonal conflicts. The rules of the isolated setting are established.
Disruption
The carved pumpkin creature comes to life. The first violent attack occurs, shattering the festive atmosphere and trapping the group in the farmhouse. What began as a celebration becomes a nightmare - the supernatural threat is real and deadly.
Resistance
Initial debate about what's happening - is it real, is it a prank, can they escape? Characters attempt rational explanations while the threat escalates. They discover they're trapped and must decide whether to hide, fight, or attempt escape. Factions form within the group.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group makes the active choice to fight back rather than simply hide. They arm themselves with makeshift weapons and decide to hunt the creature, transitioning from victims to would-be hunters. This irreversible decision launches them into direct confrontation.
Mirror World
Two characters form an unlikely alliance - perhaps a cynic and an optimist, or former enemies forced to trust each other. This relationship subplot will carry the thematic question about whether we're defined by our worst actions or capable of redemption.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - cat and mouse horror as the group explores the farmhouse, sets traps, and engages in confrontations with the creature. Scary set pieces, creative deaths, revelations about the curse. The horror-survival mechanics the audience came for.
Midpoint
False victory: The group believes they've destroyed the creature, only to discover it regenerates or there are multiple entities. The stakes raise dramatically - what they thought would work fails. The rules change, and they realize the threat is far worse than imagined.
Opposition
The creature systematically picks off survivors. Paranoia and distrust fracture the group. Past sins of characters are revealed, connecting them to why this curse has manifested. The antagonist force gains ground while the survivors' plans fail repeatedly. Everything gets harder.
Collapse
The emotional leader or most capable survivor is killed, or the last hope of escape is destroyed. A "whiff of death" - perhaps the building catches fire, or the creature corners the final survivors. The darkest moment where all seems lost and death appears inevitable.
Crisis
The surviving characters process their losses and face their own mortality. A moment of emotional reckoning where they confront what they've done, who they've become, and whether survival is even possible. The dark night before the final push.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The final confrontation. Survivors execute their plan, using what they've learned about the creature and themselves. The climactic battle where the thematic resolution plays out through action - characters must face their sins, make sacrifices, or embrace transformation to survive.