Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe
In 1979, a young soldier is working in China's snowcapped mountains when an explosion reveals bizarre fossils hidden deep in the mountain caverns. What they discover next will change his life and human history forever.
The film earned $106.4M at the global box office.
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%)
Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe (2015) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Lu Chuan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Hu Bayi as a young Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution, living an ordinary life before his fateful journey into the unknown.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Professor Yang recruits Hu Bayi for an expedition to investigate mysterious disappearances in the Kunlun Mountains, forcing him to confront his traumatic past.. 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.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The team discovers the underground chamber containing the Ghost Tribe's secrets, but awakens ancient forces; a false victory of finding answers becomes a false defeat as they realize the true danger they face., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Professor Yang is killed by the supernatural forces, and Hu Bayi believes all is lost as the team is scattered and the Ghost Tribe's power seems unstoppable; the whiff of death pervades., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Hu Bayi leads the final confrontation against the Ghost Tribe's supernatural forces, uses the discovered knowledge to break the curse, and saves the remaining team members in an explosive finale., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe against these established plot points, we can identify how Lu Chuan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe within the adventure genre.
Lu Chuan's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Lu Chuan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Lu Chuan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Lu Chuan analyses, see City of Life and Death.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hu Bayi as a young Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution, living an ordinary life before his fateful journey into the unknown.
Theme
A mentor figure warns about the dangers of disturbing ancient forces and the price of seeking forbidden knowledge.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to 1979 China, the mysterious Kunlun Mountains region, and Hu Bayi's background as a former Red Guard now working as a librarian haunted by past trauma.
Disruption
Professor Yang recruits Hu Bayi for an expedition to investigate mysterious disappearances in the Kunlun Mountains, forcing him to confront his traumatic past.
Resistance
Hu Bayi resists the call, debates joining the expedition, assembles the team including Shirley Yang, and prepares for the dangerous journey while uncovering clues about the Ghost Tribe.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The expedition explores the mysterious ruins, encounters supernatural phenomena, discovers evidence of the ancient Ghost Tribe civilization, and faces increasingly dangerous obstacles in the promise of adventure and discovery.
Midpoint
The team discovers the underground chamber containing the Ghost Tribe's secrets, but awakens ancient forces; a false victory of finding answers becomes a false defeat as they realize the true danger they face.
Opposition
The ancient supernatural forces intensify attacks on the team, members are killed or possessed, trust breaks down, and Hu Bayi's past trauma resurfaces as the Ghost Tribe's curse takes hold.
Collapse
Professor Yang is killed by the supernatural forces, and Hu Bayi believes all is lost as the team is scattered and the Ghost Tribe's power seems unstoppable; the whiff of death pervades.
Crisis
Hu Bayi confronts his darkest fears and the trauma from his past, processing the losses while the surviving team members face their own dark night of the soul.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Hu Bayi leads the final confrontation against the Ghost Tribe's supernatural forces, uses the discovered knowledge to break the curse, and saves the remaining team members in an explosive finale.