Domestic Disturbance
Frank Morrison is a divorced father with a 12-year-old son, Danny. His ex-wife Susan and son Danny now live with Rick Barnes, Susan's new husband. Danny, who has a reputation for telling lies, accuses his stepfather of committing a murder. Initially, no one believes his accusations, but then Frank becomes convinced and is the only one who believes him. Now, the father Danny trusts must protect him from the stepfather he fears.
The film disappointed at the box office against its considerable budget of $75.0M, earning $54.3M globally (-28% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its fresh perspective within the thriller genre.
1 win & 3 nominations
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%)
Domestic Disturbance (2001) reveals strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Harold Becker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Frank Morrison
Rick Barnes
Danny Morrison
Susan Morrison
Ray Coleman
Main Cast & Characters
Frank Morrison
Played by John Travolta
A boat builder and divorced father fighting to protect his son from his new stepfather's dark secrets.
Rick Barnes
Played by Vince Vaughn
A charming businessman with a violent criminal past who marries Frank's ex-wife and threatens Danny.
Danny Morrison
Played by Matt O'Leary
Frank's 12-year-old son who witnesses Rick commit murder and becomes targeted for knowing too much.
Susan Morrison
Played by Teri Polo
Frank's ex-wife who remarries Rick Barnes, initially unaware of his dangerous past.
Ray Coleman
Played by Steve Buscemi
Rick's old criminal partner who shows up demanding money, leading to his own murder.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Frank Morrison works in his boat shop, a divorced father struggling to maintain a relationship with his troubled son Danny, who is acting out due to the divorce.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Susan marries Rick Barnes despite Frank's reservations. Danny will now live full-time with his mother and new stepfather, pushing Frank further from his son's life.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Danny witnesses Rick murder his associate Ray Coleman in the car, marking his entry into a terrifying new reality where he knows his stepfather is a killer but no one believes him., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Frank discovers evidence of Ray Coleman's death and Rick's criminal past, but Rick has positioned himself so well that even this discovery seems to work against Frank, making him look obsessed and unstable., 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 (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Rick takes Danny hostage and sets fire to Frank's boat shop, attempting to kill both Danny and destroy evidence. Frank appears to have lost everything - his business, his credibility, and his son., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Frank chooses to confront Rick directly to save Danny, armed with the knowledge that being a father means doing whatever it takes to protect your child, regardless of the consequences., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Domestic Disturbance's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Domestic Disturbance against these established plot points, we can identify how Harold Becker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Domestic Disturbance within the thriller genre.
Harold Becker's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Harold Becker films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Domestic Disturbance represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Harold Becker filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include The Warriors, Thunderball and Rustom. For more Harold Becker analyses, see Malice, City Hall and Mercury Rising.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Frank Morrison works in his boat shop, a divorced father struggling to maintain a relationship with his troubled son Danny, who is acting out due to the divorce.
Theme
Frank's friend tells him that sometimes kids need to know their parents will believe them no matter what - foreshadowing the central conflict about trust and believing Danny.
Worldbuilding
Frank's ex-wife Susan is engaged to Rick Barnes, a successful businessman. Danny is acting out, caught vandalizing. Frank tries to parent from the outside while Susan moves on with her new life.
Disruption
Susan marries Rick Barnes despite Frank's reservations. Danny will now live full-time with his mother and new stepfather, pushing Frank further from his son's life.
Resistance
Frank tries to accept the new arrangement while maintaining contact with Danny. Rick appears charming but controlling. Danny struggles to adjust to his new stepfather, and Frank debates whether to fight for custody.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Danny witnesses Rick murder his associate Ray Coleman in the car, marking his entry into a terrifying new reality where he knows his stepfather is a killer but no one believes him.
Mirror World
Danny tries to tell his mother and Frank about the murder, but the lack of evidence and Danny's history of acting out makes everyone dismiss his claims as fantasy or attention-seeking.
Premise
Frank begins investigating Danny's claims while Rick works to discredit the boy and cover his tracks. The cat-and-mouse game intensifies as Rick realizes Danny is a threat and Frank starts finding evidence.
Midpoint
Frank discovers evidence of Ray Coleman's death and Rick's criminal past, but Rick has positioned himself so well that even this discovery seems to work against Frank, making him look obsessed and unstable.
Opposition
Rick turns Susan against Frank, portraying him as a jealous ex-husband. Rick becomes increasingly dangerous, threatening Danny directly while maintaining his facade. Frank's efforts to expose Rick backfire.
Collapse
Rick takes Danny hostage and sets fire to Frank's boat shop, attempting to kill both Danny and destroy evidence. Frank appears to have lost everything - his business, his credibility, and his son.
Crisis
Frank faces the reality that he must take direct action to save Danny, even if it means breaking the law himself. He processes that the system has failed to protect his son.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Frank chooses to confront Rick directly to save Danny, armed with the knowledge that being a father means doing whatever it takes to protect your child, regardless of the consequences.
Synthesis
Frank fights Rick in a climactic confrontation. Susan finally sees Rick's true nature. Frank defeats Rick, saving Danny and proving the truth, reuniting the family through shared trauma and vindication.
Transformation
Frank and Danny embrace, their bond stronger than ever. Susan looks on, the family reunited not romantically but through the proven trust between father and son - Danny was believed, Frank was right to believe him.