Sinkhole
A working class family move into a new condo purchased after 11 years of hard work. They throw a housewarming party to show his co-workers when overnight a heavy downpour creates an extremely deep sinkhole that engulfs the entire building.
Working with a tight budget of $11.4M, the film achieved a modest success with $18.0M in global revenue (+58% 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%)
Sinkhole (2021) reveals meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Kim Ji-hoon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dong-won finally achieves his 11-year dream of buying an apartment, celebrating with his family as they prepare to move into their new home in the Hwain Sangga building.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when During the housewarming party, a massive sinkhole opens beneath the building, causing it to plunge 500 meters underground. Residents are trapped in the collapsed structure, separated from rescue.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 indicates the protagonist's commitment to Dong-won makes the active decision to take charge of the survival effort, organizing the trapped residents to ration supplies, treat injuries, and devise an escape plan rather than passively waiting for rescue., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Rescue teams on the surface declare the building too unstable for immediate rescue, estimating days before they can safely extract survivors. Meanwhile, water continues flooding the sinkhole, and the structure shifts dangerously. The stakes intensify dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The building suffers a catastrophic secondary collapse, separating the group and causing severe injuries. One resident dies from their injuries, bringing the "whiff of death" to the survivors. Dong-won believes they will all perish before rescue arrives., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Dong-won discovers a potential escape route through a collapsed section and realizes that their community bond—their willingness to risk for each other—is their true strength. He rallies the survivors for one final, desperate escape attempt., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sinkhole'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 Sinkhole against these established plot points, we can identify how Kim Ji-hoon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sinkhole within the comedy genre.
Kim Ji-hoon's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Kim Ji-hoon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Sinkhole represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kim Ji-hoon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Kim Ji-hoon analyses, see The Tower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dong-won finally achieves his 11-year dream of buying an apartment, celebrating with his family as they prepare to move into their new home in the Hwain Sangga building.
Theme
Man-soo, the building manager, comments on the irony that "the ground we think is solid can give way at any moment," foreshadowing the theme of life's fragility and false security.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the apartment building residents: Dong-won's family, the anxious Man-soo, wealthy entrepreneur Seung-hyun, and others gathering for the housewarming party. Heavy rain has begun, with news reports of sinkholes appearing across Seoul.
Disruption
During the housewarming party, a massive sinkhole opens beneath the building, causing it to plunge 500 meters underground. Residents are trapped in the collapsed structure, separated from rescue.
Resistance
Survivors assess their dire situation: injuries, limited supplies, flooding water, and no communication with the surface. Dong-won debates whether to wait for rescue or take action. Tensions rise between residents with different survival approaches.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dong-won makes the active decision to take charge of the survival effort, organizing the trapped residents to ration supplies, treat injuries, and devise an escape plan rather than passively waiting for rescue.
Mirror World
Dong-won bonds with fellow resident Seung-hyun and the other survivors, forming a makeshift community. Their cooperation and mutual support contrasts with the individualistic life above ground, embodying the theme of human connection in crisis.
Premise
The survivors work together using their unique skills: Dong-won's determination, Man-soo's building knowledge, Seung-hyun's resources. They navigate the unstable structure, find supplies, and create systems to survive. Dark comedy moments emerge as they adapt to their surreal situation.
Midpoint
False defeat: Rescue teams on the surface declare the building too unstable for immediate rescue, estimating days before they can safely extract survivors. Meanwhile, water continues flooding the sinkhole, and the structure shifts dangerously. The stakes intensify dramatically.
Opposition
Conditions deteriorate rapidly: rising water levels, structural collapses, dwindling supplies, and hypothermia threaten the group. Tensions escalate as fear and desperation set in. Personal conflicts emerge as survival becomes more desperate. Time is running out.
Collapse
The building suffers a catastrophic secondary collapse, separating the group and causing severe injuries. One resident dies from their injuries, bringing the "whiff of death" to the survivors. Dong-won believes they will all perish before rescue arrives.
Crisis
In their darkest moment, trapped and facing seemingly certain death, the survivors process their losses and confront their mortality. Dong-won reflects on his wasted years chasing material dreams instead of appreciating what he had.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Dong-won discovers a potential escape route through a collapsed section and realizes that their community bond—their willingness to risk for each other—is their true strength. He rallies the survivors for one final, desperate escape attempt.
Synthesis
The survivors execute their daring escape plan, combining their skills and supporting each other through the treacherous climb. Dong-won risks his life to save others, embodying his transformation. They coordinate with rescuers from above, working together to reach safety.
Transformation
Dong-won and the survivors emerge from the sinkhole. Rather than mourning his destroyed apartment dream, Dong-won embraces his family with profound gratitude, having learned that home isn't about property—it's about the people you love and the community you build.