Revelation
Dating back to the time of Jesus Christ, an ancient relic known as the Loculus has been fought over by the forces of light and darkness down the centuries. Created in 50 A.D., the wood panels of the Loculus are emblazoned with two images: the Ankh symbol - a looped crucifix, and the Caduceus - a rod entwined with two serpents. On its perilous journey through history, the Loculus was further adorned with more arcane mystical imagery including pentagrams, hexagrams, a crucified serpent, the naked human form divine, and a hermaphrodite, and many have tried to unlock the secret of the sacred artefact, a secret only a chosen few know contains profound and overwhelming ramifications for mankind. In 1299, a Jewish alchemist's attempts to unravel the enigma ended in disaster. In 1710, Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of the laws of gravity and a foremost member of the Masonic Order of the Knights Templar, also strove to answer the riddle. But with the art of science in its infancy, Newton realized the Underground Stream of research needed to solve the puzzle would have to flow for several more centuries before the prophesied ultimate Great Work could be wrought in all its glory. Now, the Loculus, missing for hundreds of years, has reappeared again. This movie tells the story of the final search for the Loculus, and its effect on the Martel family and the whole world.
The film earned $10.0M 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%)
Revelation (2001) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Stuart Urban's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jake, a cryptographer, lives an academic life studying ancient codes and religious mysteries in his quiet scholarly world.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Jake's father-figure mentor is brutally murdered by a mysterious order seeking the ancient loculus relic, pulling Jake into a dangerous conspiracy.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jake actively chooses to partner with Mira and pursue the loculus, committing himself to unraveling the ancient mystery despite the mortal danger., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Jake and Mira discover a crucial piece of the loculus and seem to be ahead of their enemies - a false victory as the antagonists are actually tracking them., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mira is captured and seemingly killed by the order, and Jake loses the loculus pieces to the antagonists - his quest appears utterly lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jake synthesizes Mira's mystical knowledge with his scholarly skills, decoding the final secret and understanding that faith and reason must work together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Revelation'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 Revelation against these established plot points, we can identify how Stuart Urban utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Revelation within the adventure genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jake, a cryptographer, lives an academic life studying ancient codes and religious mysteries in his quiet scholarly world.
Theme
A colleague mentions that "some truths are too dangerous to reveal" - establishing the film's central tension between knowledge and faith.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Jake's academic world, the ancient Order of the Grand Masters, mysterious religious artifacts, and the historical conspiracy surrounding a sacred relic.
Disruption
Jake's father-figure mentor is brutally murdered by a mysterious order seeking the ancient loculus relic, pulling Jake into a dangerous conspiracy.
Resistance
Jake reluctantly investigates the murder, debates whether to pursue the dangerous quest, and meets Mira, an alchemist who knows about the relic's power.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jake actively chooses to partner with Mira and pursue the loculus, committing himself to unraveling the ancient mystery despite the mortal danger.
Mirror World
Jake and Mira's partnership deepens as she represents the mystical faith perspective that challenges his rational, academic worldview.
Premise
Jake and Mira follow cryptic clues across Europe, decoding ancient manuscripts, exploring sacred sites, and experiencing the thrilling adventure of the mystery hunt.
Midpoint
Jake and Mira discover a crucial piece of the loculus and seem to be ahead of their enemies - a false victory as the antagonists are actually tracking them.
Opposition
The dark order closes in, Jake's academic certainty crumbles as supernatural elements emerge, allies are compromised, and the true power of the relic becomes terrifyingly clear.
Collapse
Mira is captured and seemingly killed by the order, and Jake loses the loculus pieces to the antagonists - his quest appears utterly lost.
Crisis
Jake mourns Mira and contemplates abandoning the quest, confronting his crisis of faith and the realization that rational thinking alone cannot win this battle.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jake synthesizes Mira's mystical knowledge with his scholarly skills, decoding the final secret and understanding that faith and reason must work together.
Synthesis
Jake infiltrates the order's ritual, confronts the antagonists with his new understanding, and fights to prevent them from misusing the loculus's apocalyptic power.
Transformation
Jake, now a changed man who balances faith and reason, secures the relic and honors both his mentor's memory and Mira's teachings - no longer just a skeptical academic.