Death at a Funeral
A myriad of outrageous calamities befalls an eccentric English clan with more than a few skeletons in its closets when the family's patriarch dies an unexpected death.
Despite its tight budget of $9.0M, Death at a Funeral became a solid performer, earning $46.8M worldwide—a 420% return. The film's unconventional structure connected with viewers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Death at a Funeral (2007) reveals strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Frank Oz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Daniel
Robert
Peter
Howard
Simon
Jane
Martha
Uncle Alfie
Main Cast & Characters
Daniel
Played by Matthew Macfadyen
The eldest son tasked with organizing his father's funeral while managing family chaos and his own insecurities.
Robert
Played by Rupert Graves
The younger, successful brother who returns from New York, creating tension with Daniel over family dynamics.
Peter
Played by Peter Dinklage
A neurotic hypochondriac who accidentally takes hallucinogenic drugs, causing mayhem at the funeral.
Howard
Played by Andy Nyman
Daniel's uptight cousin who is accidentally dosed with hallucinogens and descends into chaos.
Simon
Played by Alan Tudyk
Jane's nervous boyfriend who takes Valium to calm his nerves but accidentally ingests hallucinogens instead.
Jane
Played by Keeley Hawes
Daniel's sensible wife who tries to maintain order during the funeral chaos.
Martha
Played by Daisy Donovan
Daniel's sharp-tongued, wheelchair-bound cousin who provides acerbic commentary on the proceedings.
Uncle Alfie
Played by Peter Vaughan
The family patriarch and curmudgeon who provides blunt, inappropriate commentary throughout the funeral.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Daniel opens the coffin to discover the funeral home has delivered the wrong body, immediately establishing the chaos that will define the day and his inability to control the situation.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when A mysterious dwarf named Peter arrives uninvited, claiming to have been close to the deceased father and requesting a private word with Daniel, signaling that dark secrets are about to surface.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Daniel agrees to meet privately with Peter, who reveals he was the father's secret lover and demands £15,000 in blackmail money or he'll expose the affair to everyone at the funeral., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Peter accidentally gets injected with the same hallucinogenic drugs, raising the stakes dramatically as the brothers now have a drugged blackmailer to manage alongside all their other disasters - a false defeat where control completely slips away., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Peter dies from a drug overdose while the family watches in horror, transforming a comedy of errors into potential manslaughter charges and complete exposure of all the family's secrets - the ultimate "whiff of death" made literal., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Daniel realizes they must hide Peter's body in the coffin with his father to protect the family. He finally takes decisive leadership, coordinating the cover-up and accepting his role as head of the family., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Death at a Funeral's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Death at a Funeral against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Oz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Death at a Funeral within the comedy genre.
Frank Oz's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Frank Oz films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Death at a Funeral takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Oz filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Frank Oz analyses, see The Dark Crystal, The Indian in the Cupboard and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Daniel opens the coffin to discover the funeral home has delivered the wrong body, immediately establishing the chaos that will define the day and his inability to control the situation.
Theme
Daniel's mother criticizes him for not being as successful as his brother Robert, stating that appearances and family reputation matter most - encapsulating the theme of surface respectability versus hidden truths.
Worldbuilding
The dysfunctional family gathers: Simon accidentally takes hallucinogenic drugs thinking they're valium, Martha dreads introducing fiancé Simon to disapproving father, Robert arrives as the favored son, and elderly Uncle Alfie terrorizes his caretaker Justin.
Disruption
A mysterious dwarf named Peter arrives uninvited, claiming to have been close to the deceased father and requesting a private word with Daniel, signaling that dark secrets are about to surface.
Resistance
Daniel tries to manage the growing chaos while avoiding Peter. Simon's drug trip intensifies. Martha struggles to keep Simon functioning. Howard complains about his hypochondria. Daniel debates whether to confront the mysterious stranger or focus on the funeral.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Daniel agrees to meet privately with Peter, who reveals he was the father's secret lover and demands £15,000 in blackmail money or he'll expose the affair to everyone at the funeral.
Mirror World
Martha and Simon's relationship deepens as she cares for him through his escalating hallucinogenic crisis, demonstrating unconditional love and acceptance - the authentic connection Daniel lacks with his own family.
Premise
Comedic chaos unfolds: Simon strips naked on the roof believing he can fly, Daniel and Robert scramble to find the blackmail money, Uncle Alfie's bowel emergency creates havoc, and Peter threatens exposure while the family desperately maintains appearances before guests.
Midpoint
Peter accidentally gets injected with the same hallucinogenic drugs, raising the stakes dramatically as the brothers now have a drugged blackmailer to manage alongside all their other disasters - a false defeat where control completely slips away.
Opposition
Everything spirals: Peter has a bad trip and becomes increasingly erratic, the photos proving the affair surface, family members begin discovering each other's secrets, Justin is blamed for everything, and the funeral service approaches with nothing resolved.
Collapse
Peter dies from a drug overdose while the family watches in horror, transforming a comedy of errors into potential manslaughter charges and complete exposure of all the family's secrets - the ultimate "whiff of death" made literal.
Crisis
The family confronts the reality of Peter's death. Daniel must decide whether to call authorities and expose everything or find another way. The brothers and other conspirators debate their options in desperate whispers while guests wait for the service.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Daniel realizes they must hide Peter's body in the coffin with his father to protect the family. He finally takes decisive leadership, coordinating the cover-up and accepting his role as head of the family.
Synthesis
The family executes the plan: Peter's body is hidden in the coffin, the funeral service finally proceeds, Daniel delivers his eulogy finding genuine words about his father's complexity, and each subplot resolves - Martha's father accepts Simon, Robert agrees to help Daniel financially, and the casket is closed on all the family's secrets.
Transformation
The family stands united at the graveside as the coffin (containing both bodies and all their secrets) is lowered into the ground. Daniel, now clearly the family patriarch, holds his wife's hand - transformed from overwhelmed son to confident leader who protected his family.