No Good Deed
Terri is a devoted wife and mother of two, living an ideal suburban life in Atlanta when Colin, a charming but dangerous escaped convict, shows up at her door claiming car trouble. Terri offers her phone to help him but soon learns that no good deed goes unpunished as she finds herself fighting for survival when he invades her home and terrorizes her family.
Despite its limited budget of $13.2M, No Good Deed became a solid performer, earning $53.8M worldwide—a 308% return. The film's unique voice connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
No Good Deed (2014) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Sam Miller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 24 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Terry at home with her children, isolated in suburbia. Her husband is away, she's overwhelmed with domestic life, feeling disconnected and trapped in her role as mother and wife.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Colin escapes custody after his parole is denied, killing his ex-girlfriend in a violent rage. This sets the predator in motion toward Terry's home during a stormy night.. 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Terry actively chooses to let Colin into her home despite her hesitations. This decision crosses the threshold from safety into danger, inviting the threat inside., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Terry discovers Colin has been lying and realizes he's dangerous. The false intimacy shatters. Stakes raise dramatically as she understands she and her children are in mortal danger. The game changes from seduction to survival., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 63 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Colin overpowers Terry completely. Her friend Meg appears dead, her children are in immediate danger, and she is physically beaten down. All hope seems lost as Colin prepares to kill her family., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 67 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Terry realizes Colin's true connection to her past and his real motivation. This knowledge, combined with maternal fury, transforms her from victim to fighter. She stops defending and starts attacking., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
No Good Deed'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 No Good Deed against these established plot points, we can identify how Sam Miller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish No Good Deed within the crime genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Terry at home with her children, isolated in suburbia. Her husband is away, she's overwhelmed with domestic life, feeling disconnected and trapped in her role as mother and wife.
Theme
Terry's friend Meg warns her about trusting strangers and being too kind: "You can't save everyone." The theme of misplaced trust and the danger of appearing vulnerable is established.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Terry's isolated suburban life and Colin's parole hearing. We see Terry's loneliness and domestic routine while Colin is denied parole after a disturbing psychological evaluation reveals his narcissism and violence.
Disruption
Colin escapes custody after his parole is denied, killing his ex-girlfriend in a violent rage. This sets the predator in motion toward Terry's home during a stormy night.
Resistance
Colin's car accident near Terry's home. He appears at her door asking to use the phone. Terry debates letting him in, her instincts warring with her compassion and politeness. She ultimately chooses kindness.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Terry actively chooses to let Colin into her home despite her hesitations. This decision crosses the threshold from safety into danger, inviting the threat inside.
Mirror World
Colin charms Terry with conversation, appearing to be the attentive, interesting man her absent husband isn't. This "mirror" shows what she thinks she wants but is actually a dangerous illusion.
Premise
The cat-and-mouse game begins. Colin manipulates the situation while Terry remains unaware of the true danger. He controls communication, isolates her, and reveals flashes of menace while maintaining his facade.
Midpoint
Terry discovers Colin has been lying and realizes he's dangerous. The false intimacy shatters. Stakes raise dramatically as she understands she and her children are in mortal danger. The game changes from seduction to survival.
Opposition
Colin's violence escalates. Meg arrives and is attacked. Terry tries to protect her children while Colin becomes increasingly unhinged. Every escape attempt fails as Colin anticipates and blocks her moves.
Collapse
Colin overpowers Terry completely. Her friend Meg appears dead, her children are in immediate danger, and she is physically beaten down. All hope seems lost as Colin prepares to kill her family.
Crisis
Terry's darkest moment as she faces the consequences of her misplaced trust. She must find strength not from hoping for rescue, but from within herself to save her children.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Terry realizes Colin's true connection to her past and his real motivation. This knowledge, combined with maternal fury, transforms her from victim to fighter. She stops defending and starts attacking.
Synthesis
Terry fights back with intelligence and ferocity, using the domestic space she knows intimately as a weapon. The final confrontation where she defeats Colin, protecting her children and reclaiming her power.
Transformation
Terry, bloodied but victorious, holds her children. She is no longer the isolated, passive woman from the opening. She has discovered her strength and will never be a victim again.