Men & Chicken
Men & Chicken is a black comedy about two outcast brothers who, by getting to know their unknown family, discover a horrible truth about themselves and their relatives.
The film earned $4.8M 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%)
Men & Chicken (2015) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Anders Thomas Jensen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Gabriel, a socially awkward academic with compulsive masturbation habits, lives a lonely existence dominated by intellectual pursuits and sexual dysfunction. His brother Elias is similarly odd and childlike.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The videotaped message reveals that their real father lives on Ork island with three other sons. Gabriel and Elias learn their entire identity was a lie, upending their understanding of who they are.. 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 Gabriel and Elias board the ferry to Ork island, actively choosing to seek out their biological father and half-brothers despite their fears. They cross into a strange new world., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Gabriel discovers that their "father" is actually dead and stored in the basement. The brothers have been lying about him being alive. This false defeat reveals the truth is darker than expected., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The full horror of their origins is revealed: they are the product of their father's sexual experiments with animals. Gabriel confronts the death of his human identity and the loss of any hope for normalcy., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The five brothers unite as a family, defending their home from outside threats. They create their own society on Ork where their abnormalities are accepted. Gabriel finds peace in belonging rather than normalcy., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Men & Chicken's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Men & Chicken against these established plot points, we can identify how Anders Thomas Jensen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Men & Chicken 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
Gabriel, a socially awkward academic with compulsive masturbation habits, lives a lonely existence dominated by intellectual pursuits and sexual dysfunction. His brother Elias is similarly odd and childlike.
Theme
At their father's deathbed, he cryptically tells them "You are who you are" and reveals they were adopted, hinting at the film's central question about nature versus nurture and what defines family.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Gabriel and Elias' bizarre personalities, their father's death, and the revelation via videotape that they have three half-brothers living on the remote island of Ork. The brothers are outcasts in normal society.
Disruption
The videotaped message reveals that their real father lives on Ork island with three other sons. Gabriel and Elias learn their entire identity was a lie, upending their understanding of who they are.
Resistance
Gabriel resists visiting Ork, uncomfortable with the revelation. Elias insists they must meet their real family. Gabriel debates whether to confront this disturbing truth or remain in denial about his origins.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Gabriel and Elias board the ferry to Ork island, actively choosing to seek out their biological father and half-brothers despite their fears. They cross into a strange new world.
Mirror World
Gabriel and Elias meet their three grotesque half-brothers—Gregor, Josef, and Franz—who are even more deformed and animalistic than they are. These brothers mirror what Gabriel fears most about himself.
Premise
The brothers explore their shared dysfunction on Ork. Dark comedy ensues as they engage in bizarre rituals, animal taxidermy, and violent outbursts. Gabriel searches for their father while learning to relate to his strange siblings.
Midpoint
Gabriel discovers that their "father" is actually dead and stored in the basement. The brothers have been lying about him being alive. This false defeat reveals the truth is darker than expected.
Opposition
Tensions escalate as Gabriel learns the horrifying truth: their father was a geneticist who created them through bestiality experiments. The brothers are human-animal hybrids. Gabriel's identity crisis deepens as he rejects his brothers.
Collapse
The full horror of their origins is revealed: they are the product of their father's sexual experiments with animals. Gabriel confronts the death of his human identity and the loss of any hope for normalcy.
Crisis
Gabriel wallows in despair and disgust at what he is. He must decide whether to reject his brothers and remain isolated, or accept his true nature and find belonging with his equally monstrous family.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The five brothers unite as a family, defending their home from outside threats. They create their own society on Ork where their abnormalities are accepted. Gabriel finds peace in belonging rather than normalcy.