Men
In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to find a place to heal. But someone — or something — from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her, and what begins as simmering dread becomes a fully-formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears.
Working with a small-scale budget of $6.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $11.2M in global revenue (+72% 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%)
Men (2022) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Alex Garland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Harper's husband James falls from their apartment balcony to his death after a confrontation, establishing the traumatic event that haunts her.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Harper encounters a naked man watching her from the end of the tunnel during her walk, shattering any sense of peace or safety in the countryside.. 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Harper decides to stay and confront what's happening rather than flee, committing to face her fears and trauma in this increasingly hostile environment., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The naked man breaks into the house. Harper's situation escalates from psychological horror to physical danger as the threat becomes undeniably real and present., 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, Harper is trapped in the house as night falls. All avenues of escape are cut off. The figures surround her completely, representing the inescapable nature of her trauma and societal gaslighting., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Harper stops running and decides to witness the grotesque birth cycle of the male figures, choosing to observe and understand rather than flee from the horror., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Men's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Men against these established plot points, we can identify how Alex Garland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Men within the horror genre.
Alex Garland's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Alex Garland films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Men represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alex Garland filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Alex Garland analyses, see Ex Machina, Annihilation and Civil War.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Harper's husband James falls from their apartment balcony to his death after a confrontation, establishing the traumatic event that haunts her.
Theme
The rental agent Geoffrey makes uncomfortable comments about Harper being alone, introducing the theme of male entitlement and projection of blame onto women.
Worldbuilding
Harper arrives at the countryside manor to recuperate. Through flashbacks, we learn about her abusive marriage, James's manipulation and suicide threat, establishing her guilt and trauma.
Disruption
Harper encounters a naked man watching her from the end of the tunnel during her walk, shattering any sense of peace or safety in the countryside.
Resistance
Harper tries to rationalize the encounters, calls the police, speaks with her friend Riley. She debates whether to stay or leave, struggling with whether the threats are real or projections of her trauma.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Harper decides to stay and confront what's happening rather than flee, committing to face her fears and trauma in this increasingly hostile environment.
Mirror World
Harper realizes that multiple men in the village all have the same face, reflecting her recognition that male toxicity is not individual but systemic and repeating.
Premise
Harper encounters various manifestations of the same male figure: the vicar who blames her for James's death, the police officer who dismisses her fears, the boy who harasses her. Each embodies different aspects of male violence and gaslighting.
Midpoint
The naked man breaks into the house. Harper's situation escalates from psychological horror to physical danger as the threat becomes undeniably real and present.
Opposition
The various male figures converge and become increasingly aggressive. Harper fights back physically, but each victory is temporary as the manifestations keep returning, multiplying her torment.
Collapse
Harper is trapped in the house as night falls. All avenues of escape are cut off. The figures surround her completely, representing the inescapable nature of her trauma and societal gaslighting.
Crisis
Harper confronts her deepest fear and guilt about James's death in the darkness, processing whether she truly bears responsibility or has been conditioned to accept blame.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Harper stops running and decides to witness the grotesque birth cycle of the male figures, choosing to observe and understand rather than flee from the horror.
Synthesis
The nightmarish sequence where each male figure gives birth to the next, culminating in James's rebirth. Harper calmly refuses to accept his manipulation and blame, asserting her autonomy and rejecting his emotional demands.