Centurion
Britain, A.D. 117. Quintus Dias, the sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus' legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the Earth and destroy their leader, Gorlacon.
The film disappointed at the box office against its small-scale budget of $12.0M, earning $6.9M globally (-43% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its distinctive approach 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%)
Centurion (2010) exhibits carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Neil Marshall's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Quintus Dias
Etain
General Titus Flavius Virilus
Bothos
Thax
Brick
Macros
Arianne
Main Cast & Characters
Quintus Dias
Played by Michael Fassbender
A Roman centurion and sole survivor of a Pict raid who becomes the de facto leader of the Ninth Legion survivors trying to return to Roman territory.
Etain
Played by Olga Kurylenko
A mute Pict warrior seeking vengeance against Romans for the murder of her family. She leads the relentless pursuit of the Roman survivors.
General Titus Flavius Virilus
Played by Dominic West
The commanding general of the Ninth Legion, captured by the Picts. A proud, duty-bound military leader.
Bothos
Played by David Morrissey
A veteran Roman soldier and tracker, pragmatic and survival-focused. One of the most capable members of the escape party.
Thax
Played by JJ Feild
A loyal Roman soldier who serves as second-in-command. Disciplined and devoted to duty and his general.
Brick
Played by Liam Cunningham
A Roman soldier of African descent, strong and dependable. Provides muscle and loyalty to the group.
Macros
Played by Noel Clarke
A Roman soldier with medical knowledge who tends to the wounded. Caring but pragmatic about survival.
Arianne
Played by Imogen Poots
A Pict woman who shelters the Roman survivors. She has been exiled from her tribe and shows compassion despite the conflict.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Centurion Quintus Dias is a Roman soldier stationed at a frontier fort in Britannia, surviving in the harsh northern territories. He narrates his belief that survival is about endurance and will.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when The Ninth Legion is ambushed and decimated by Pict warriors led by the mute tracker Etain. General Virilus is captured, and the legendary legion is destroyed in a brutal massacre.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Quintus and the survivors actively choose to infiltrate the Pict village to rescue General Virilus, crossing into enemy territory and committing to a dangerous mission rather than retreating to Roman safety., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The group is whittled down to just Quintus and one or two others. Arianne is recaptured by the Picts. The mission has failed, most are dead, and Quintus faces the reality that Rome has abandoned them—the "whiff of death" as hope dies., illustrates 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 82% of the runtime. The final confrontation. Quintus returns to face Etain, fights to save Arianne, and makes his stand. The finale resolves the thematic question about duty, vengeance, and whether one can choose mercy over endless violence. The pursuit ends., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Centurion's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Centurion against these established plot points, we can identify how Neil Marshall utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Centurion within the action genre.
Neil Marshall's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Neil Marshall films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Centurion represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Neil Marshall filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Neil Marshall analyses, see The Descent, Doomsday and Hellboy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Centurion Quintus Dias is a Roman soldier stationed at a frontier fort in Britannia, surviving in the harsh northern territories. He narrates his belief that survival is about endurance and will.
Theme
General Virilus speaks about Rome's glory and the necessity of maintaining the empire's borders, suggesting the cost of duty and whether survival or honor matters most when facing impossible odds.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the brutal world of Roman-occupied Britannia in 117 AD. Quintus escapes a Pict massacre at his fort and is rescued by the Ninth Legion led by General Virilus. The Legion is tasked with eliminating the Pict leader Gorlacon.
Disruption
The Ninth Legion is ambushed and decimated by Pict warriors led by the mute tracker Etain. General Virilus is captured, and the legendary legion is destroyed in a brutal massacre.
Resistance
Seven survivors, led by Quintus, debate whether to flee south to safety or attempt a rescue of General Virilus. They argue about duty versus survival, with the group reluctantly deciding to attempt the rescue despite the odds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Quintus and the survivors actively choose to infiltrate the Pict village to rescue General Virilus, crossing into enemy territory and committing to a dangerous mission rather than retreating to Roman safety.
Mirror World
The rescue attempt fails catastrophically. They witness General Virilus being executed, and barely escape. Etain, the mute Pict warrior whose family was killed by Romans, becomes the relentless force hunting them—a mirror of vengeance versus mercy.
Premise
The desperate chase begins. The seven Romans flee south through hostile Pict territory, hunted by Etain and her warriors. Survival in the wilderness, evading pursuers, and internal group tensions as they struggle to reach Roman lines. The "chase movie" premise plays out.
Opposition
Etain and the Pict warriors continue closing in. The Romans are forced back into the wilderness. Internal conflicts intensify—some want to split up, others turn on each other. More soldiers die. Arianne helps them but Etain's pursuit is relentless. The cold and starvation worsen.
Collapse
The group is whittled down to just Quintus and one or two others. Arianne is recaptured by the Picts. The mission has failed, most are dead, and Quintus faces the reality that Rome has abandoned them—the "whiff of death" as hope dies.
Crisis
Quintus experiences his dark night, questioning everything he believed about Rome, duty, and honor. He must decide whether to keep running or make a stand. The emotional weight of loss and betrayal settles in.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The final confrontation. Quintus returns to face Etain, fights to save Arianne, and makes his stand. The finale resolves the thematic question about duty, vengeance, and whether one can choose mercy over endless violence. The pursuit ends.