Hideaway
Hatch Harrison had a traffic accident with his car. At first the doctors said he was dead but then they succeeded in bringing him back to life after two hours. In no time, Hatch starts to have strange sensations and discovers that he is now united with a mad killer who had entered his mind during his death.
The film underperformed commercially against its mid-range budget of $15.0M, earning $12.2M globally (-19% loss).
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%)
Hideaway (1995) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Brett Leonard's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dr. Hatch Harrison
Lindsey Harrison
Vassago
Regina Harrison
Dr. Jonas Nyebern
Main Cast & Characters
Dr. Hatch Harrison
Played by Jeff Goldblum
A cardiologist who dies in a car accident and is revived, only to develop a psychic connection with a serial killer.
Lindsey Harrison
Played by Christine Lahti
Hatch's devoted wife who struggles to protect her family from supernatural danger.
Vassago
Played by Jeremy Sisto
A deranged serial killer obsessed with death and Hell, connected to Hatch through their near-death experiences.
Regina Harrison
Played by Alicia Silverstone
Hatch and Lindsey's adopted teenage daughter who becomes Vassago's target.
Dr. Jonas Nyebern
Played by Alfred Molina
The pioneering physician who revives Hatch and studies the afterlife through resuscitation research.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Hatch Harrison drives with his wife and daughter in a winter storm, a normal family on a routine trip, unaware their lives are about to be shattered.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Hatch Harrison dies in the icy river for over two hours. Dr. Jonas uses experimental technology to bring him back to life, an unprecedented medical resurrection with unknown consequences.. 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 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Hatch witnesses a murder through his visions and discovers the victim's body actually exists. He can no longer deny he is psychically connected to a serial killer, committing himself to stopping the murders., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Vassago discovers the psychic connection works both ways and sees Hatch's family through their link. The hunter becomes the hunted as the killer sets his sights on Regina, Hatch's adopted daughter., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Vassago abducts Regina from her bedroom despite all precautions. Hatch arrives moments too late, finding only traces of violence. His worst fear is realized: his resurrection has brought death directly to his daughter., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Hatch stops fighting the visions and opens himself completely to the connection. By accepting the darkness, he locates Vassago's lair and understands the only way to end this is a direct confrontation in the killer's domain., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Hideaway'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 Hideaway against these established plot points, we can identify how Brett Leonard utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Hideaway within the fantasy genre.
Brett Leonard's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Brett Leonard films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Hideaway takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brett Leonard filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian. For more Brett Leonard analyses, see Virtuosity, The Lawnmower Man.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hatch Harrison drives with his wife and daughter in a winter storm, a normal family on a routine trip, unaware their lives are about to be shattered.
Theme
Dr. Jonas remarks that death is not the end but a journey, suggesting the film's exploration of the thin boundary between life and death and what comes back from the other side.
Worldbuilding
The Harrison family's world is established before being destroyed. The car accident kills Hatch and his daughter, revealing a family still healing from grief. Dr. Jonas introduces experimental resuscitation technology.
Disruption
Hatch Harrison dies in the icy river for over two hours. Dr. Jonas uses experimental technology to bring him back to life, an unprecedented medical resurrection with unknown consequences.
Resistance
Hatch recovers physically but experiences disturbing visions of murder through a killer's eyes. He resists believing the visions are real, seeking rational explanations while his marriage strains under the trauma.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hatch witnesses a murder through his visions and discovers the victim's body actually exists. He can no longer deny he is psychically connected to a serial killer, committing himself to stopping the murders.
Mirror World
The connection between Hatch and Vassago deepens, revealing they are mirror images: one returned from death to protect life, the other devoted to bringing death, both bound by their shared moment beyond the veil.
Premise
Hatch uses his psychic connection to hunt the killer while protecting his family. The visions intensify as he learns to navigate this supernatural link, experiencing the killer's perspective and attempting to identify him.
Midpoint
Vassago discovers the psychic connection works both ways and sees Hatch's family through their link. The hunter becomes the hunted as the killer sets his sights on Regina, Hatch's adopted daughter.
Opposition
Vassago stalks the Harrison family while Hatch desperately tries to identify and locate him. The visions become more violent and invasive. Hatch's ability to protect his family seems increasingly futile against the supernatural threat.
Collapse
Vassago abducts Regina from her bedroom despite all precautions. Hatch arrives moments too late, finding only traces of violence. His worst fear is realized: his resurrection has brought death directly to his daughter.
Crisis
Hatch confronts the darkest implications of his return from death. He must fully embrace the psychic connection, accepting its darkness and his own rage, to have any chance of saving Regina before Vassago kills her.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hatch stops fighting the visions and opens himself completely to the connection. By accepting the darkness, he locates Vassago's lair and understands the only way to end this is a direct confrontation in the killer's domain.
Synthesis
Hatch invades Vassago's hellish underground lair to rescue Regina. Father and killer engage in a brutal battle that is both physical and psychic, two souls fighting for dominance, one to save life and one to take it.
Transformation
The Harrison family reunited and safe. Hatch has conquered the darkness that followed him back from death, no longer haunted but whole. He has earned his second chance at life by fighting for it.