Self/less
An extremely wealthy elderly man dying from cancer undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness to the body of a healthy young man but everything may not be as good as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body's origins and the secret organization that will kill to keep its secrets.
Working with a moderate budget of $26.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $31.8M in global revenue (+22% 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%)
Self/less (2015) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Tarsem Singh's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Damian Hale / Young Damian
Old Damian Hale
Madeline
Dr. Albright
Anna
Main Cast & Characters
Damian Hale / Young Damian
Played by Ryan Reynolds
Dying billionaire architect who undergoes "shedding" procedure to transfer his consciousness into a younger body, only to discover dark secrets about his new vessel.
Old Damian Hale
Played by Ben Kingsley
The original elderly Damian - a ruthless, wealthy architect with terminal cancer who seeks immortality through experimental science.
Madeline
Played by Natalie Martinez
A mysterious woman from "Young Damian's" suppressed memories who becomes central to uncovering the truth about the shedding procedure.
Dr. Albright
Played by Matthew Goode
The brilliant but morally compromised scientist who created the shedding technology and maintains control over his clients through deception.
Anna
Played by Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen
Madeline's young daughter who suffers from a terminal illness and becomes the emotional stakes of the film's conflict.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Damian Hale, a powerful real estate mogul, stands at the top of his empire overlooking New York City. Despite his wealth and success, he is isolated and dying of cancer, estranged from his daughter Claire.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Damian collapses from his illness during a meeting, forcing him to confront his mortality. His doctors confirm there is no hope. He must decide whether to pursue the radical shedding procedure.. 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 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Damian undergoes the shedding procedure, dying in his old body and awakening in a new young body. He actively chooses to cross into this new existence, leaving his old identity behind forever., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Damian stops taking the pills and the visions intensify, revealing they are memories. He discovers the body wasn't lab-grown - it belonged to Mark Bitwell, a real soldier with a wife (Madeline) and daughter (Anna). False victory of new life becomes false defeat., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Albright's men kill Anton and capture Damian and Madeline. Damian is forced to watch as Albright prepares to "shed" into a new body while Anna's cancer medication is held hostage. His attempt to save Mark's family has led to death and failure., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Damian synthesizes his old ruthless determination with his newfound moral clarity. He breaks free and formulates a plan to destroy Albright's operation and ensure Anna gets the cure she needs., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Self/less's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Self/less against these established plot points, we can identify how Tarsem Singh utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Self/less within the science fiction genre.
Tarsem Singh's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Tarsem Singh films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Self/less represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tarsem Singh filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional science fiction films include The Postman, Mad Max 2 and AVP: Alien vs. Predator. For more Tarsem Singh analyses, see Immortals, The Cell and The Fall.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Damian Hale, a powerful real estate mogul, stands at the top of his empire overlooking New York City. Despite his wealth and success, he is isolated and dying of cancer, estranged from his daughter Claire.
Theme
Dr. Albright mentions that the shedding process offers "a second chance" and asks what Damian would do differently. The theme of redemption and the price of immortality is established.
Worldbuilding
Damian's world is established: his terminal cancer diagnosis, strained relationship with daughter Claire, his vast wealth and power, and his desperation to survive. He learns about Professor Albright's mysterious "shedding" procedure.
Disruption
Damian collapses from his illness during a meeting, forcing him to confront his mortality. His doctors confirm there is no hope. He must decide whether to pursue the radical shedding procedure.
Resistance
Damian debates the ethics and risks of the procedure. He fakes his death, says goodbye to his old life, and travels to New Orleans. Albright guides him through preparation for the consciousness transfer.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Damian undergoes the shedding procedure, dying in his old body and awakening in a new young body. He actively chooses to cross into this new existence, leaving his old identity behind forever.
Mirror World
Now calling himself Edward, Damian meets Anton at a bar and begins to experience the pleasures of youth - physical vitality, social connection, and romantic possibilities. This new world represents everything he missed.
Premise
Damian explores his new life with youthful vigor: parties, romance, physical activities. But disturbing hallucinations begin - visions of a woman and child, a beach house. Albright prescribes pills to suppress these "side effects."
Midpoint
Damian stops taking the pills and the visions intensify, revealing they are memories. He discovers the body wasn't lab-grown - it belonged to Mark Bitwell, a real soldier with a wife (Madeline) and daughter (Anna). False victory of new life becomes false defeat.
Opposition
Damian tracks down Madeline and Anna in Missouri. Albright's forces pursue him violently. Damian learns the truth: Albright has been harvesting bodies from desperate people, and Mark sold his body to save Anna from cancer. The opposition closes in.
Collapse
Albright's men kill Anton and capture Damian and Madeline. Damian is forced to watch as Albright prepares to "shed" into a new body while Anna's cancer medication is held hostage. His attempt to save Mark's family has led to death and failure.
Crisis
Imprisoned and seemingly defeated, Damian processes his failure. He realizes that true redemption isn't about extending his own life, but about sacrificing it to restore what was stolen from Mark and save Anna.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Damian synthesizes his old ruthless determination with his newfound moral clarity. He breaks free and formulates a plan to destroy Albright's operation and ensure Anna gets the cure she needs.
Synthesis
Damian fights his way through Albright's facility, destroys the laboratory, and confronts Albright. He ensures Madeline and Anna escape with the cancer cure. He burns down the evidence of the shedding program.
Transformation
Damian watches from a distance as Anna, now healthy, plays on a beach with Madeline - the vision from his memories fulfilled. He has given Mark's family their life back, achieving redemption by sacrificing his second chance at immortality.