Something Wicked This Way Comes
In Green Town, Illinois, the twelve year-old boys Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are neighbors and best friends. Will's father Charles Halloway is an old man and the local librarian while Jim and his mother wait for the return of the return of their father and husband that will never occur. The boys know everyone in town, including their school teacher Miss Foley that misses her beauty and youth; the lonely barber Mr. Crosetti that has no girlfriend or wife; the greedy owner of a cigar store Mr. Tetley that is obsessed with money; and the bartender Ed that has severed arm and leg and dreams on being a football hero. One day, Jim buys a lightning rod from the salesman Tom Fury that tells that a storm is coming. During the night, the boys overhear a mysterious train and they run through the woods to see the arrival but they do not see a living soul. However, they find the Mr. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival ready to be enjoyed and they snoop around. Soon they realize that frustrated and greedy people are vanishing in town and the evil Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch make their dreams come true. In return, Mr. Dark seizes their souls. Now Mr. Dark is seeking them out but Charles Halloway has a journal from his father about the autumn carnival that might be their last chance to defeat the evil.
The film financial setback against its mid-range budget of $20.0M, earning $8.4M globally (-58% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the fantasy genre.
2 wins & 7 nominations
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%)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) showcases deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Jack Clayton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 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 Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade lie in their beds on the last night of October, best friends living next door to each other in a quiet small town. Will's father Charles is an aging librarian who feels he's too old to connect with his son.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The carnival arrives in the dead of night, three weeks after all carnivals have closed for the season. Dark music plays as an ominous parade of wagons rolls through the empty streets at 3 AM. The boys watch from Will's window, sensing something wrong.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Will and Jim actively choose to spy on the carnival after witnessing Mr. Crosetti's transformation. Despite their fear, they commit to uncovering the truth about Mr. Dark and his sinister operation, making themselves targets., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Mr. Dark brings his carnival parade to the library, directly threatening Charles and revealing he knows the boys' secrets. The stakes escalate dramatically as Mr. Dark demonstrates total control over the town, turning the authorities into his servants. The boys realize they cannot hide., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jim succumbs to temptation and rides the carousel forward, aging into a young adult and falling under Mr. Dark's complete control. Will loses his best friend to darkness. Charles is attacked by the witch and appears to die of fright, leaving Will utterly alone against the carnival., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Charles and Will storm the carnival with laughter and love. They mock Mr. Dark, refusing to fear him. Charles destroys the witch with ridicule. They rescue Jim from the carousel, restoring him with pure affection. Mr. Dark withers as his power—fed by fear and desire—is starved by joy. The carnival collapses and the townspeople are freed., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Something Wicked This Way Comes's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Something Wicked This Way Comes against these established plot points, we can identify how Jack Clayton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Something Wicked This Way Comes within the fantasy genre.
Jack Clayton's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Jack Clayton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Something Wicked This Way Comes represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jack Clayton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Jack Clayton analyses, see The Great Gatsby.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade lie in their beds on the last night of October, best friends living next door to each other in a quiet small town. Will's father Charles is an aging librarian who feels he's too old to connect with his son.
Theme
Tom Fury, the lightning rod salesman, warns the boys: "Storm's coming. Worse than electrical storms. Fury's the name, fury's the game." He speaks of a different kind of danger that feeds on desire and fear, foreshadowing the carnival's dark power.
Worldbuilding
The idyllic small-town life of Green Town, Illinois is established. Will and Jim explore their world, Charles works at the library feeling disconnected from his son, Miss Foley teaches school longing for lost youth, and Mr. Crosetti runs the barber shop. The town is cozy but hints of longing and regret permeate.
Disruption
The carnival arrives in the dead of night, three weeks after all carnivals have closed for the season. Dark music plays as an ominous parade of wagons rolls through the empty streets at 3 AM. The boys watch from Will's window, sensing something wrong.
Resistance
Will and Jim debate whether to investigate the carnival. Charles researches strange carnivals in old library books, finding disturbing historical patterns. The boys witness the carousel running backwards and see Mr. Crosetti transformed into a young boy. They realize the carousel grants wishes but at a terrible price.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Will and Jim actively choose to spy on the carnival after witnessing Mr. Crosetti's transformation. Despite their fear, they commit to uncovering the truth about Mr. Dark and his sinister operation, making themselves targets.
Mirror World
Mr. Dark confronts the boys directly, demonstrating his power through his tattooed illustrations that come alive. This relationship becomes the thematic center: Mr. Dark offers everything they desire (Jim wants to be older, Will wants his father younger), testing whether they'll surrender to temptation.
Premise
The boys navigate the dangerous carnival world, witnessing its dark magic. Miss Foley becomes a young girl and is lost in the mirror maze. Mr. Dark hunts the boys through town using supernatural means. Charles begins to understand the carnival feeds on human desire and fear, becoming the knowledge-keeper the boys need.
Midpoint
Mr. Dark brings his carnival parade to the library, directly threatening Charles and revealing he knows the boys' secrets. The stakes escalate dramatically as Mr. Dark demonstrates total control over the town, turning the authorities into his servants. The boys realize they cannot hide.
Opposition
Mr. Dark's power grows. He captures Jim, tempting him with the carousel to become older. Charles' knowledge proves insufficient against Dark's supernatural abilities. The witch attacks Charles. The carnival's grip on the town tightens as it prepares for its final harvest of souls before moving on.
Collapse
Jim succumbs to temptation and rides the carousel forward, aging into a young adult and falling under Mr. Dark's complete control. Will loses his best friend to darkness. Charles is attacked by the witch and appears to die of fright, leaving Will utterly alone against the carnival.
Crisis
Will grieves over his father's body and Jim's transformation. In despair, he nearly gives up. But he remembers his father's words and the power of love and laughter against fear. Will faces the dark night alone, processing the devastating losses.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Charles and Will storm the carnival with laughter and love. They mock Mr. Dark, refusing to fear him. Charles destroys the witch with ridicule. They rescue Jim from the carousel, restoring him with pure affection. Mr. Dark withers as his power—fed by fear and desire—is starved by joy. The carnival collapses and the townspeople are freed.