Silver Bullet
The small town of Tarker's Mills was a place that was very peaceful, where nothing extraordinary ever happened until one night when murders began. The townspeople believe it's some maniacal killer on the loose whom they intend to hunt down. Marty, a young handicapped boy, believes the killer is no man at all, but a werewolf. After a run-in with the werewolf, Marty and his sister Jane hunt all over town for the man who is the werewolf.
Working with a limited budget of $7.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $12.4M in global revenue (+77% 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%)
Silver Bullet (1985) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Dan Attias's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Marty Coslaw
Jane Coslaw
Uncle Red
Reverend Lowe
Main Cast & Characters
Marty Coslaw
Played by Corey Haim
A wheelchair-bound boy who becomes the town's unlikely hero in hunting a werewolf terrorizing their community.
Jane Coslaw
Played by Megan Follows
Marty's protective older sister who initially resents him but becomes his loyal ally in fighting the werewolf.
Uncle Red
Played by Gary Busey
The children's unconventional uncle who drinks heavily but proves to be their most reliable supporter and protector.
Reverend Lowe
Played by Everett McGill
The town's troubled minister who harbors a dark secret and struggles with his own monstrous nature.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jane's adult narration introduces Tarker's Mills as a quiet town where nothing much happens, establishing the peaceful but stagnant small-town life before the horror begins.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The first brutal murder occurs when Arnie Westrum is torn apart by an unseen creature in the train yard, shattering the town's peaceful existence and introducing the werewolf threat.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to On the Fourth of July, Marty sneaks out at night in his Silver Bullet wheelchair and encounters the werewolf directly, shooting out its eye with a firework rocket. He has now become a target and is committed to identifying the beast., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Jane spots Reverend Lowe wearing an eyepatch, confirming Marty's theory. The false victory of identification becomes false defeat when they realize the trusted spiritual leader of their community is the monster, and no adult will believe children accusing a reverend., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Reverend Lowe confronts Marty directly, revealing he knows Marty sent the letters. He threatens the boy and his family, making it clear he intends to kill them on the next full moon. Marty is helpless in his wheelchair against this predator., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Uncle Red finally believes Marty and Jane after seeing evidence of Lowe's guilt. He agrees to help them and has a silver bullet made from Jane's confirmation pendant, giving them the weapon they need to fight the werewolf., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Silver Bullet'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 Silver Bullet against these established plot points, we can identify how Dan Attias utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Silver Bullet within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Thinner, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Mary Reilly.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jane's adult narration introduces Tarker's Mills as a quiet town where nothing much happens, establishing the peaceful but stagnant small-town life before the horror begins.
Theme
Uncle Red tells Marty that sometimes the people who seem the most respectable are hiding the darkest secrets, foreshadowing the revelation about Reverend Lowe and establishing the theme of evil hiding behind trusted facades.
Worldbuilding
We meet Marty Coslaw, a spirited boy in a wheelchair, his resentful sister Jane, their parents, and eccentric Uncle Red. The town of Tarker's Mills is established as an idyllic small community with a beloved reverend and tight-knit residents.
Disruption
The first brutal murder occurs when Arnie Westrum is torn apart by an unseen creature in the train yard, shattering the town's peaceful existence and introducing the werewolf threat.
Resistance
More murders follow as the town spirals into fear. Marty's friend Brady is killed, and vigilante groups form. Uncle Red provides Marty with the motorized wheelchair "Silver Bullet," giving Marty mobility and agency while the town debates how to respond to the killings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
On the Fourth of July, Marty sneaks out at night in his Silver Bullet wheelchair and encounters the werewolf directly, shooting out its eye with a firework rocket. He has now become a target and is committed to identifying the beast.
Mirror World
Marty confides in his sister Jane about seeing the werewolf. Despite their rivalry, she agrees to help him search for someone with a missing eye, establishing the sibling bond that will prove crucial to defeating the monster.
Premise
Marty and Jane investigate the town's residents, searching for someone with eye damage. They play detective while more murders occur and the town descends further into paranoia. The children's investigation gives the horror film its unique perspective.
Midpoint
Jane spots Reverend Lowe wearing an eyepatch, confirming Marty's theory. The false victory of identification becomes false defeat when they realize the trusted spiritual leader of their community is the monster, and no adult will believe children accusing a reverend.
Opposition
Reverend Lowe realizes the children know his secret and begins stalking them. Marty sends an anonymous letter to Lowe, and the reverend responds with threats. The children try to convince Uncle Red, who remains skeptical. Lowe's desperation grows as the next full moon approaches.
Collapse
Reverend Lowe confronts Marty directly, revealing he knows Marty sent the letters. He threatens the boy and his family, making it clear he intends to kill them on the next full moon. Marty is helpless in his wheelchair against this predator.
Crisis
Marty and Jane are terrified and isolated. Their parents don't believe them about the reverend. They face the impossible choice of waiting to be killed or finding a way to stop a werewolf with no adult support.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Uncle Red finally believes Marty and Jane after seeing evidence of Lowe's guilt. He agrees to help them and has a silver bullet made from Jane's confirmation pendant, giving them the weapon they need to fight the werewolf.
Synthesis
On the full moon, Uncle Red stands guard with the children at Marty's house while their parents are away. The werewolf attacks, crashing through the walls. In the climactic confrontation, Marty shoots Reverend Lowe with the silver bullet, killing the beast.
Transformation
Adult Jane's narration reflects on how the ordeal brought the siblings together. The final image shows Marty and Jane embracing, their antagonistic relationship transformed into a deep bond forged through facing evil together.