Godsend
The 8-year-old Adam is killed in a traffic accident. His grieving parents agree to recreate him through experimental and illegal cloning, conducted by an ingenious but pushy geneticist. After eight happy years, a scary door opens between Adam II and someone from the past.
Working with a mid-range budget of $25.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $30.1M in global revenue (+20% profit margin).
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%)
Godsend (2004) demonstrates strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Nick Hamm's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Happy family life: Paul and Jessie Duncan celebrate their son Adam's 8th birthday with joy and laughter, establishing their loving, normal family dynamic.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Adam is struck and killed by a car while chasing his dog into the street. The family's perfect world is shattered instantly and irrevocably.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Paul and Jessie make the active choice to accept Wells' offer. They sign consent forms and commit to the cloning procedure, entering a morally ambiguous new world., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: Adam turns 8 (the age original Adam died) and begins experiencing violent nightmares and disturbing behavioral changes. The "safe" period is over; they've entered uncharted territory., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Paul confronts Wells and learns the horrifying truth: Wells secretly spliced his dead son Zachary's DNA into Adam's clone. Adam is possessed by/merged with a murdered child's consciousness. Their son is irretrievably corrupted., demonstrates 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 80% of the runtime. Paul realizes Adam/Zachary is reenacting Zachary's murder and must be stopped. He synthesizes what he's learned: the only way to save what remains of Adam is to confront the Zachary persona directly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Godsend'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 Godsend against these established plot points, we can identify how Nick Hamm utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Godsend within the action genre.
Nick Hamm's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Nick Hamm films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Godsend takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nick Hamm filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nick Hamm analyses, see The Hole.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Happy family life: Paul and Jessie Duncan celebrate their son Adam's 8th birthday with joy and laughter, establishing their loving, normal family dynamic.
Theme
At the birthday party, a guest mentions "You can't hold onto them forever" when discussing children growing up - foreshadowing the theme of letting go vs. holding on unnaturally.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Duncan family's idyllic life. Paul is a high school teacher, Jessie is a photographer. Adam is bright, curious, and deeply loved. Their world is stable, warm, and full of promise.
Disruption
Adam is struck and killed by a car while chasing his dog into the street. The family's perfect world is shattered instantly and irrevocably.
Resistance
Devastated parents grieve. Dr. Richard Wells, a former professor of Jessie's, approaches them at the funeral with an unprecedented offer: he can clone Adam. Paul and Jessie debate the moral, ethical, and emotional implications.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Paul and Jessie make the active choice to accept Wells' offer. They sign consent forms and commit to the cloning procedure, entering a morally ambiguous new world.
Mirror World
Jessie gives birth to cloned Adam. Dr. Wells becomes a constant presence in their lives, representing the Faustian bargain they've made - he embodies both their salvation and their moral compromise.
Premise
The "promise of the premise": they raise cloned Adam from infancy to age 8, experiencing joy as he develops identically to the original. They get their son back. The experiment appears successful, and they live in cautious happiness.
Midpoint
False defeat: Adam turns 8 (the age original Adam died) and begins experiencing violent nightmares and disturbing behavioral changes. The "safe" period is over; they've entered uncharted territory.
Opposition
Adam's condition worsens: aggressive outbursts, night terrors depicting a murdered boy, claiming to be someone named "Zachary." Wells downplays concerns. Paul investigates and discovers Wells had a son named Zachary who died. Trust erodes; danger escalates.
Collapse
Paul confronts Wells and learns the horrifying truth: Wells secretly spliced his dead son Zachary's DNA into Adam's clone. Adam is possessed by/merged with a murdered child's consciousness. Their son is irretrievably corrupted.
Crisis
Dark night: Paul and Jessie grapple with the realization that they've created a monster, not resurrected their son. Adam/Zachary becomes violent. Wells is killed by Adam. The parents face losing their son twice - and their own moral culpability.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Paul realizes Adam/Zachary is reenacting Zachary's murder and must be stopped. He synthesizes what he's learned: the only way to save what remains of Adam is to confront the Zachary persona directly.
Synthesis
Finale: Paul tracks Adam to the location from his nightmares. Adam/Zachary attacks, fully consumed by the murder victim's rage. Paul must physically stop his own son. The clone survives, but is forever changed. They return home to an uncertain future.
Transformation
Closing image: The family attempts normalcy, but Adam exhibits subtle signs that Zachary's consciousness remains. Paul and Jessie share a knowing, fearful look - they are living with the consequences of playing God. Unlike the joyful birthday of the opening, this is survival tinged with dread.