Crank
Chev Chelios, a hit man wanting to go straight, lets his latest target slip away. Then he awakes the next morning to a phone call that informs him he has been poisoned and has only an hour to live unless he keeps adrenaline coursing through his body while he searches for an antidote.
Despite its modest budget of $12.0M, Crank became a commercial success, earning $42.9M worldwide—a 258% return. The film's distinctive approach engaged audiences, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 wins & 2 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Chev Chelios
Eve Lydon
Ricky Verona
Doc Miles
Kaylo
Orlando
Main Cast & Characters
Chev Chelios
Played by Jason Statham
A hitman poisoned with a synthetic toxin who must keep his adrenaline pumping to stay alive while seeking revenge.
Eve Lydon
Played by Amy Smart
Chev's naive girlfriend who gets caught up in his dangerous world.
Ricky Verona
Played by Jose Pablo Cantillo
A rival hitman who poisons Chev to take over his position with the syndicate.
Doc Miles
Played by Dwight Yoakam
Chev's underground doctor friend who explains the poison and helps him stay alive.
Kaylo
Played by Efren Ramirez
Chev's associate and informant who helps him track down Verona.
Orlando
Played by Reno Wilson
A drug dealer and pimp who has information about Verona.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chev Chelios wakes up groggy and disoriented in his apartment, finding a DVD left by his enemy. The image establishes a man who has been violated while unconscious—his peaceful hitman existence is already shattered.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when After watching the DVD, Chev fully comprehends that Ricky Verona has injected him with a Chinese synthetic poison that will kill him once his adrenaline drops. His old life as a hitman planning to retire is now impossible—he's a dead man walking.. 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.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Chev commits fully to his suicide mission of revenge, snorting cocaine and stealing a cab to begin his rampage through Los Angeles. He crosses the threshold from dying victim to active hunter, choosing to die on his own terms., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Chev confronts Carlito and learns the full truth—Verona was working within the organization and Carlito knew about the hit. This false defeat reveals the conspiracy is bigger than Chev realized; even his allies have betrayed him. The stakes raise dramatically., 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, Chev's heart stops. He experiences clinical death, the ultimate "whiff of death." Everything he fought for seems lost—Eve is captured, Verona has won, and Chev lies lifeless. His quest for revenge and redemption appears to have failed completely., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Revived and with nothing left to lose, Chev synthesizes his need for revenge with his love for Eve. He realizes that his final act must be to save her and kill Verona—not for himself, but to give his death meaning. He commits to the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Crank's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Crank against these established plot points, we can identify how Brian Taylor utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Crank within the action genre.
Brian Taylor's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Brian Taylor films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Crank exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brian Taylor filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Brian Taylor analyses, see Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Gamer.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chev Chelios wakes up groggy and disoriented in his apartment, finding a DVD left by his enemy. The image establishes a man who has been violated while unconscious—his peaceful hitman existence is already shattered.
Theme
Doc Miles tells Chev over the phone that adrenaline is the only thing keeping him alive: "You stop, you die." This encapsulates the film's theme—only by living at maximum intensity can one truly be alive.
Worldbuilding
The setup establishes Chev's world as a professional hitman in Los Angeles, his relationship with girlfriend Eve who doesn't know his real job, his connection to crime boss Carlito, and the rules of the poison—he must keep his adrenaline pumping or die within the hour.
Disruption
After watching the DVD, Chev fully comprehends that Ricky Verona has injected him with a Chinese synthetic poison that will kill him once his adrenaline drops. His old life as a hitman planning to retire is now impossible—he's a dead man walking.
Resistance
Chev debates what to do with his final hours. Doc Miles serves as his guide, explaining the poison and advising him on how to survive. Chev considers simply accepting death but ultimately decides he cannot die without confronting Verona and protecting Eve.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Chev commits fully to his suicide mission of revenge, snorting cocaine and stealing a cab to begin his rampage through Los Angeles. He crosses the threshold from dying victim to active hunter, choosing to die on his own terms.
Mirror World
Chev picks up Eve from her apartment, beginning the subplot that carries the theme. Eve represents the normal life Chev wanted but can never have. Her presence forces him to confront what he's losing and what truly matters—love over violence.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" delivers non-stop adrenaline as Chev tears through LA seeking Verona. He fights gangsters, causes mayhem in a hospital to get epinephrine, has public sex with Eve in Chinatown to raise his heart rate, and battles his way closer to his target—all while literally running out of time.
Midpoint
Chev confronts Carlito and learns the full truth—Verona was working within the organization and Carlito knew about the hit. This false defeat reveals the conspiracy is bigger than Chev realized; even his allies have betrayed him. The stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
Everything closes in on Chev. The poison weakens him progressively, the police are hunting him, and Verona's men attack from all sides. Eve learns the truth about Chev's profession and is kidnapped. Each method of boosting adrenaline becomes less effective as his body fails.
Collapse
Chev's heart stops. He experiences clinical death, the ultimate "whiff of death." Everything he fought for seems lost—Eve is captured, Verona has won, and Chev lies lifeless. His quest for revenge and redemption appears to have failed completely.
Crisis
The dark period following Chev's clinical death. Doc Miles manages to revive him with a massive epinephrine injection directly to the heart. Chev must process that he literally died and choose whether to continue his mission despite having nothing left to lose.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Revived and with nothing left to lose, Chev synthesizes his need for revenge with his love for Eve. He realizes that his final act must be to save her and kill Verona—not for himself, but to give his death meaning. He commits to the final confrontation.
Synthesis
The explosive finale as Chev storms the rooftop where Verona holds Eve. He battles through Verona's men, rescues Eve, and confronts Verona directly. The fight spills out of a helicopter, and Chev drags Verona into freefall—choosing mutual destruction to ensure his enemy dies with him.
Transformation
Chev falls through the sky, free from the poison, from his past, from everything. He calls Eve one last time to say goodbye, his face peaceful. He crashes onto a car—but his eye twitches. The man who lived only when dying has transcended death itself. He is transformed from victim to legend.