Cobweb
An eight-year-old boy tries to investigate the mysterious knocking sounds that are coming from inside the walls of his house, unveiling a dark secret that his sinister parents have kept hidden from him.
The film disappointed at the box office against its limited budget of $13.0M, earning $10.1M globally (-22% loss).
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%)
Cobweb (2023) exemplifies strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Samuel Bodin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 28 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Peter is a lonely, bullied 8-year-old living with his overprotective and controlling parents in an isolated house. His fearful, constrained existence establishes a world of anxiety and repression.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Peter begins hearing mysterious tapping sounds from inside his bedroom wall on Halloween night. A voice calls to him, claiming to be his sister, trapped and needing help.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Peter makes the active choice to communicate with the voice in the wall, accepting her as real and beginning a relationship with this mysterious entity. He commits to uncovering the truth about his family., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Peter finds concrete evidence that his parents have been lying—proof that a sister existed. The stakes raise dramatically as he realizes his parents are capable of terrible things. False defeat: he's discovered the truth but is now in greater danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Peter's parents subdue him and prepare to imprison or kill him like they did his sister. Miss Devine is attacked trying to rescue Peter. This is Peter's darkest moment—complete powerlessness, the death of hope for rescue, and the "whiff of death" as violence erupts., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Peter releases his sister from the wall, but discovers she has become a feral, monstrous creature. A violent confrontation erupts between the sister-creature and the parents. Peter must navigate this horror and survive as his family destroys itself. The truth proves more terrible than imagined., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cobweb's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Cobweb against these established plot points, we can identify how Samuel Bodin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cobweb within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Peter is a lonely, bullied 8-year-old living with his overprotective and controlling parents in an isolated house. His fearful, constrained existence establishes a world of anxiety and repression.
Theme
Miss Devine, Peter's teacher, expresses concern about his withdrawn behavior and encourages him to trust others, hinting at the film's theme: confronting the truth versus accepting comfortable lies.
Worldbuilding
We establish Peter's isolated world: his controlling parents who forbid him from trick-or-treating, his struggles at school with bullies, the eerily old-fashioned house with strict rules, and the oppressive atmosphere of his home life.
Disruption
Peter begins hearing mysterious tapping sounds from inside his bedroom wall on Halloween night. A voice calls to him, claiming to be his sister, trapped and needing help.
Resistance
Peter debates whether the voice is real or imagined. His parents deny everything and punish him for asking questions. Miss Devine becomes a potential ally, offering care and concern that contrasts with his parents' coldness. Peter resists fully investigating.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Peter makes the active choice to communicate with the voice in the wall, accepting her as real and beginning a relationship with this mysterious entity. He commits to uncovering the truth about his family.
Premise
Peter secretly investigates the house, searching for evidence of his sister. The voice guides and encourages him. His parents' behavior grows increasingly sinister and violent. The horror premise unfolds as Peter discovers disturbing clues about his family's dark secrets.
Midpoint
Peter finds concrete evidence that his parents have been lying—proof that a sister existed. The stakes raise dramatically as he realizes his parents are capable of terrible things. False defeat: he's discovered the truth but is now in greater danger.
Opposition
Peter's parents become increasingly aggressive in containing him. The voice in the wall urges him to free her. Miss Devine attempts to intervene but faces resistance. The walls literally and figuratively close in on Peter as his parents' true monstrous nature emerges.
Collapse
Peter's parents subdue him and prepare to imprison or kill him like they did his sister. Miss Devine is attacked trying to rescue Peter. This is Peter's darkest moment—complete powerlessness, the death of hope for rescue, and the "whiff of death" as violence erupts.
Crisis
In his lowest moment, Peter must confront the terrifying choice: remain paralyzed by fear or take desperate action. He processes the horror of his parents' true nature and faces his own powerlessness.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Peter releases his sister from the wall, but discovers she has become a feral, monstrous creature. A violent confrontation erupts between the sister-creature and the parents. Peter must navigate this horror and survive as his family destroys itself. The truth proves more terrible than imagined.
Transformation
Peter emerges traumatized but alive, having confronted the horrific truth of his family. The final image shows him forever changed—no longer the naive, fearful boy, but scarred by knowledge. The transformation is dark: he gained truth at a devastating cost.