Ingrid Goes West
Ingrid becomes obsessed with a social network star named Taylor Sloane who seemingly has a perfect life. But when Ingrid decides to drop everything and move west to be Taylor's friend, her behaviour turns unsettling and dangerous.
The film earned $24.9M at the global box office.
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%)
Ingrid Goes West (2017) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Matt Spicer's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ingrid obsessively scrolls through Instagram, stalking influencer Charlotte's wedding. She crashes the reception uninvited and pepper-sprays Charlotte, revealing her unstable, lonely existence defined by social media obsession.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Ingrid discovers Taylor Sloane's perfect Instagram life in a magazine. Taylor becomes her new obsession and the article mentions her favorite bookstore, giving Ingrid a concrete plan to engineer a "chance" meeting.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Ingrid returns Taylor's dog Rothko and Taylor invites her out. Ingrid makes the active choice to fully commit to the deception, buying new clothes, adopting Taylor's aesthetic, and accepting the invitation into Taylor's world., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Taylor's brother Nicky arrives from Austin, immediately suspicious of Ingrid. He represents a threat to her fabricated world. Simultaneously, Ingrid's relationship with Dan deepens, creating tension between her real and fake lives. Stakes raise., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Nicky kidnaps and drugs Ingrid, demanding money. In desperation, Ingrid steals Taylor's truck and Nicky's laptop. Taylor discovers the theft and finds Ingrid's obsessive fake social media. Their friendship dies. Ingrid loses everything she'd built., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Dan saves Ingrid's life. In the hospital, she discovers her confession video went viral, bringing her massive social media attention and followers. She realizes she can weaponize vulnerability itself for validation—a dark revelation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ingrid Goes West'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 Ingrid Goes West against these established plot points, we can identify how Matt Spicer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ingrid Goes West within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ingrid obsessively scrolls through Instagram, stalking influencer Charlotte's wedding. She crashes the reception uninvited and pepper-sprays Charlotte, revealing her unstable, lonely existence defined by social media obsession.
Theme
Ingrid's therapist (off-screen, implied through context) addresses authenticity vs. performance. The film asks: "Can connection built on lies ever be real?" This theme permeates Ingrid's journey as she constructs a false identity.
Worldbuilding
Ingrid lives alone after her mother's death, inheriting $60,000. She discovers Taylor Sloane, a Venice Beach influencer, through a magazine article. Ingrid becomes obsessed, studying Taylor's Instagram religiously, planning to recreate herself and befriend Taylor.
Disruption
Ingrid discovers Taylor Sloane's perfect Instagram life in a magazine. Taylor becomes her new obsession and the article mentions her favorite bookstore, giving Ingrid a concrete plan to engineer a "chance" meeting.
Resistance
Ingrid moves to Los Angeles, rents an apartment from Dan Pinto (a Batman-obsessed landlord/screenwriter). She stalks Taylor's social media, learns her routines, and stages an elaborate "accidental" meeting by stealing Taylor's dog and "finding" it.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ingrid returns Taylor's dog Rothko and Taylor invites her out. Ingrid makes the active choice to fully commit to the deception, buying new clothes, adopting Taylor's aesthetic, and accepting the invitation into Taylor's world.
Mirror World
Dan Pinto represents authentic connection—he genuinely likes Ingrid for who she actually is, not her fake persona. He sees through social media artifice and offers real friendship, embodying the film's theme of authenticity vs. performance.
Premise
Ingrid lives her Instagram fantasy: trendy restaurants, desert trips, artisanal purchases. She and Taylor become inseparable, documenting everything. Ingrid drains her inheritance maintaining the lifestyle. The promise: living the influencer dream.
Midpoint
Taylor's brother Nicky arrives from Austin, immediately suspicious of Ingrid. He represents a threat to her fabricated world. Simultaneously, Ingrid's relationship with Dan deepens, creating tension between her real and fake lives. Stakes raise.
Opposition
Nicky investigates Ingrid's background, finding her Instagram of the Charlotte assault. Ingrid becomes desperate to maintain her facade. Taylor invites Ingrid to Joshua Tree, but tension builds as Nicky threatens exposure and Ingrid's money runs out.
Collapse
Nicky kidnaps and drugs Ingrid, demanding money. In desperation, Ingrid steals Taylor's truck and Nicky's laptop. Taylor discovers the theft and finds Ingrid's obsessive fake social media. Their friendship dies. Ingrid loses everything she'd built.
Crisis
Alone and broke, Ingrid returns to Dan, who still cares for her. But consumed by shame and loss, she cannot accept authentic connection. She records a tearful confession video admitting everything and attempts suicide by overdose.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Dan saves Ingrid's life. In the hospital, she discovers her confession video went viral, bringing her massive social media attention and followers. She realizes she can weaponize vulnerability itself for validation—a dark revelation.
Synthesis
Ingrid embraces her new "authentic vulnerability" brand, gaining thousands of followers. She monetizes her breakdown. The film reveals Taylor's life was equally fabricated. Ingrid has learned nothing—she's simply found a new mask to wear.
Transformation
Ingrid smiles at her phone, reading supportive comments on her viral video. She's still alone, still trapped by social media validation, but now with more followers. The closing image mirrors the opening—she's learned nothing. A corruption arc complete.