Desperate Measures
San Francisco police officer Frank Connor is in a frantic search for a compatible bone marrow donor for his gravely ill son. There's only one catch: the potential donor is convicted multiple murderer Peter McCabe who sees a trip to the hospital as the perfect opportunity to get what he wants most: freedom. With McCabe's escape, the entire hospital becomes a battleground and Connor must pursue and, ironically, protect the deadly fugitive who is his son's only hope for survival.
The film commercial failure against its moderate budget of $50.0M, earning $13.8M globally (-72% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the action 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%)
Desperate Measures (1998) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Barbet Schroeder's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Frank Conner
Peter McCabe
Nate Oliver
Samantha Hawkins
Jeremiah Cassidy
Main Cast & Characters
Frank Conner
Played by Andy Garcia
A desperate San Francisco police detective willing to break all rules to save his dying son who needs a bone marrow transplant.
Peter McCabe
Played by Michael Keaton
A brilliant, psychopathic killer who agrees to donate bone marrow to Connor's son in exchange for escape opportunities.
Nate Oliver
Played by Joseph Cross
Connor's terminally ill young son suffering from leukemia who needs a bone marrow transplant to survive.
Samantha Hawkins
Played by Marcia Gay Harden
An ER trauma surgeon at the hospital who becomes involved in the dangerous situation between Connor and McCabe.
Jeremiah Cassidy
Played by Brian Cox
FBI agent who pursues McCabe and clashes with Connor over his methods and compromises with a dangerous criminal.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Frank Conner sits vigil at his dying son Matthew's hospital bedside. The boy is pale and weak from leukemia, establishing the desperate stakes and a father's anguish as the world before the story's central conflict.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Frank visits Peter McCabe in prison, where the cunning killer immediately sees through Frank's desperation and begins manipulating the situation. McCabe agrees to be tested, but his predatory intelligence signals danger ahead.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Frank makes the irreversible choice to transport McCabe to the hospital for the bone marrow extraction surgery. Despite every instinct warning him, he commits to the dangerous path, binding his son's fate to a psychopath., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat McCabe takes hostages in the hospital, and the FBI assumes control, treating it as a standard hostage situation. Their orders are shoot-to-kill. Frank realizes the authorities don't care about his son—false defeat as his desperate gamble seems certain to fail., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Matthew flatlines in surgery as his body begins rejecting what little treatment he's received. Frank receives word his son is dying. Simultaneously, the FBI corners McCabe with lethal intent. Everything Frank fought for collapses—the whiff of death becomes literal., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Frank realizes he must protect McCabe from his own colleagues to save his son. He commits fully, positioning himself between the FBI snipers and McCabe—becoming the protector of the very monster he's been hunting. This synthesis of hunter and guardian enables the finale., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Desperate Measures'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 Desperate Measures against these established plot points, we can identify how Barbet Schroeder utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Desperate Measures within the action genre.
Barbet Schroeder's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Barbet Schroeder films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Desperate Measures takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Barbet Schroeder filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Barbet Schroeder analyses, see Kiss of Death, Murder by Numbers and Single White Female.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Frank Conner sits vigil at his dying son Matthew's hospital bedside. The boy is pale and weak from leukemia, establishing the desperate stakes and a father's anguish as the world before the story's central conflict.
Theme
A doctor tells Frank that without a matching donor, his son will die, asking how far he's willing to go. This poses the film's central question: what moral lines will a father cross to save his child?
Worldbuilding
We learn Frank is a dedicated cop whose wife left him, leaving him sole caregiver to Matthew. The bone marrow registry search reveals only one match exists: convicted murderer Peter McCabe. Frank researches McCabe's violent history while wrestling with approaching a psychopath.
Disruption
Frank visits Peter McCabe in prison, where the cunning killer immediately sees through Frank's desperation and begins manipulating the situation. McCabe agrees to be tested, but his predatory intelligence signals danger ahead.
Resistance
Frank debates the wisdom of trusting McCabe as colleagues warn him. Legal negotiations ensue as McCabe demands better prison conditions. Frank prepares the transfer while security protocols are established, though McCabe is clearly planning something.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Frank makes the irreversible choice to transport McCabe to the hospital for the bone marrow extraction surgery. Despite every instinct warning him, he commits to the dangerous path, binding his son's fate to a psychopath.
Mirror World
Dr. Samantha Hawkins, the surgeon performing the extraction, emerges as the moral center. She represents the medical ethics Frank is compromising and will later challenge both men's humanity, carrying the theme of preservation of life at any cost.
Premise
The cat-and-mouse thriller delivers its promise: McCabe executes his escape during surgery, and Frank must pursue him through the hospital. The unique twist is Frank must capture but not kill McCabe, creating impossible tension as bodies pile up and McCabe outmaneuvers everyone.
Midpoint
McCabe takes hostages in the hospital, and the FBI assumes control, treating it as a standard hostage situation. Their orders are shoot-to-kill. Frank realizes the authorities don't care about his son—false defeat as his desperate gamble seems certain to fail.
Opposition
Frank must fight on two fronts: tracking McCabe through the hospital while preventing the FBI from killing him. McCabe proves terrifyingly resourceful, killing guards and using the building's infrastructure. Each near-capture ends with McCabe slipping away as Matthew's condition worsens.
Collapse
Matthew flatlines in surgery as his body begins rejecting what little treatment he's received. Frank receives word his son is dying. Simultaneously, the FBI corners McCabe with lethal intent. Everything Frank fought for collapses—the whiff of death becomes literal.
Crisis
Frank faces his darkest moment. His son is dying, McCabe is about to be killed, and he's lost control of everything. He must choose: accept his son's death or risk everything on one final desperate move to reach McCabe before the FBI does.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Frank realizes he must protect McCabe from his own colleagues to save his son. He commits fully, positioning himself between the FBI snipers and McCabe—becoming the protector of the very monster he's been hunting. This synthesis of hunter and guardian enables the finale.
Synthesis
Frank confronts McCabe directly, appealing to whatever humanity remains. A final showdown ensues where Frank must subdue McCabe without killing him while preventing others from doing so. McCabe, unexpectedly moved or simply calculating, allows the bone marrow extraction to complete.
Transformation
Frank sits at Matthew's bedside as the transplant takes hold and his son begins recovering. The desperate father who compromised everything now holds his living child. The closing image mirrors the opening—same hospital room, but now filled with hope instead of despair.