Chaos Walking
Two unlikely companions embark on a perilous adventure through the badlands of an unexplored planet as they try to escape a dangerous and disorienting reality, where all inner thoughts are seen and heard by everyone.
The film box office disappointment against its significant budget of $125.0M, earning $26.5M globally (-79% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the fantasy 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%)
Chaos Walking (2021) exemplifies precise story structure, characteristic of Doug Liman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Todd Hewitt
Viola Eade
David Prentiss
Ben Moore
Aaron
Cillian Boyd
Hildy
Davy Prentiss Jr.
Main Cast & Characters
Todd Hewitt
Played by Tom Holland
A young man living in a world where all thoughts are audible as Noise, who discovers a mysterious girl who crash-lands on his planet.
Viola Eade
Played by Daisy Ridley
A young woman from a scout ship who crash-lands on New World and lacks Noise, making her a mystery to the all-male settlement.
David Prentiss
Played by Mads Mikkelsen
The authoritarian mayor of Prentisstown who seeks to control New World and will stop at nothing to capture Viola.
Ben Moore
Played by Demián Bichir
Todd's adoptive father who raises him with compassion and teaches him to control his Noise in preparation for a dangerous truth.
Aaron
Played by David Oyelowo
A fanatical preacher loyal to Prentiss who relentlessly pursues Todd and Viola with disturbing determination.
Cillian Boyd
Played by Cynthia Erivo
Todd's other adoptive father who works alongside Ben to protect Todd from the dark secrets of Prentisstown.
Hildy
Played by Mads Mikkelsen
The leader of Farbranch settlement and a woman who represents hope for a different future on New World.
Davy Prentiss Jr.
Played by Nick Jonas
Mayor Prentiss's son who struggles between following his father's cruel orders and his own moral compass.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown, an all-male settlement on New World where everyone can hear each other's thoughts as "Noise." He works on his adoptive parents' farm, isolated and longing for something more.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Todd discovers a pocket of silence in the swamp - impossibly, a girl named Viola whose crashed scout ship means the incoming colony fleet will discover Prentisstown's dark secrets. Prentiss learns of her arrival.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to After Prentiss's men kill Cillian and Ben, Todd chooses to flee with Viola into the wilderness, leaving behind everything he's known to guide her to safety and escape Prentiss's pursuit., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat At Farbranch, Todd and Viola discover the settlement has been taken over by Prentiss, who has been conquering towns and building an army. Their safe destination is compromised. Prentiss captures Viola, and Todd learns the full extent of the Mayor's power and manipulation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Todd is forced into a position where he must kill to become a man in Prentiss's army. In his darkest moment, he nearly loses himself to the violence and Noise, almost becoming what Prentiss wants. His innocence dies., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Todd chooses to reject Prentiss and embraces what Viola and Ben taught him - that strength is choosing restraint, not violence. He masters his Noise to use it as a weapon of resistance. Davy helps them escape, sacrificing himself. Todd commits to stopping Prentiss., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Chaos Walking'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 Chaos Walking against these established plot points, we can identify how Doug Liman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Chaos Walking within the fantasy genre.
Doug Liman's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Doug Liman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Chaos Walking represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Doug Liman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian. For more Doug Liman analyses, see Swingers, The Bourne Identity and Fair Game.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown, an all-male settlement on New World where everyone can hear each other's thoughts as "Noise." He works on his adoptive parents' farm, isolated and longing for something more.
Theme
Ben tells Todd that "a man's gotta know when to walk away from a fight" - introducing the central question of when to hide versus when to stand and fight, and what真正的 strength means.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Prentisstown as the last settlement of men after the Spackle (aliens) killed all women with a germ that created the Noise. Mayor Prentiss controls the town with an iron fist. Todd is approaching manhood in this harsh, thought-exposed world.
Disruption
Todd discovers a pocket of silence in the swamp - impossibly, a girl named Viola whose crashed scout ship means the incoming colony fleet will discover Prentisstown's dark secrets. Prentiss learns of her arrival.
Resistance
Ben and Cillian reveal the truth: the women weren't killed by Spackle but by Prentiss and his men. They give Todd his mother's journal and send him to flee with Viola to Farbranch. Todd resists leaving the only home he's known, but accepts he must protect Viola.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After Prentiss's men kill Cillian and Ben, Todd chooses to flee with Viola into the wilderness, leaving behind everything he's known to guide her to safety and escape Prentiss's pursuit.
Mirror World
Todd and Viola begin to connect despite his Noise exposing his every thought and insecurity. Viola represents silence, control, and the feminine perspective absent from Todd's world - she mirrors what he needs to learn about trust and vulnerability.
Premise
Todd and Viola's journey through New World - navigating his uncontrollable Noise, encountering settlements, learning about each other. Todd discovers more lies about his world while protecting Viola, and begins to master controlling his thoughts. The promise of their growing bond and adventure.
Midpoint
At Farbranch, Todd and Viola discover the settlement has been taken over by Prentiss, who has been conquering towns and building an army. Their safe destination is compromised. Prentiss captures Viola, and Todd learns the full extent of the Mayor's power and manipulation.
Opposition
Prentiss holds Viola hostage and tries to convert Todd to his side, revealing Todd's mother was killed for defying him. Todd is forced into Prentiss's army. Davy Prentiss Jr. struggles with his father's orders. The resistance weakens as Prentiss tightens control and Todd's hope fades.
Collapse
Todd is forced into a position where he must kill to become a man in Prentiss's army. In his darkest moment, he nearly loses himself to the violence and Noise, almost becoming what Prentiss wants. His innocence dies.
Crisis
Todd grapples with what he's become and whether he can resist Prentiss's control. Viola is held captive, their bond seemingly broken. Todd must decide who he truly is - the monster Prentiss claims all men are, or someone who can choose differently.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Todd chooses to reject Prentiss and embraces what Viola and Ben taught him - that strength is choosing restraint, not violence. He masters his Noise to use it as a weapon of resistance. Davy helps them escape, sacrificing himself. Todd commits to stopping Prentiss.
Synthesis
Todd and Viola lead the final confrontation against Prentiss. Todd uses his Noise to fight back, protecting Viola while she signals the colony fleet. They expose Prentiss's lies. The battle culminates in Todd choosing mercy over revenge, proving his transformation.
Transformation
Todd stands with Viola as the colony ships land, no longer ashamed of his Noise but in control of it. He has become a man by choosing compassion over violence, partnership over domination - the opposite of what Prentiss taught. A new world begins.