Something Wild
The uneventful life of the businessman Charles Driggs suddenly changes when he meets the wild and sexy Lulu. When he accepts her offer to drive him back to his office, she instead takes him out of town and on a trip, leaving behind his old life. Posing as a married couple, Charles and "Audrey" (which turns out to be Lulu's real name) visit her mother and her high school reunion. At this reunion they meet Audrey's violent ex-husband Ray, who has just released from prison. When Ray makes it clear that he wants Audrey back, that is when the real trouble begins.
Working with a modest budget of $7.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $8.4M in global revenue (+19% profit margin).
2 wins & 6 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 Wild (1986) exhibits meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Jonathan Demme's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Charles Driggs, a buttoned-up Manhattan yuppie businessman, skips out on a restaurant check in broad daylight—a small act of rebellion that reveals his repressed desire to break free from his rigid, controlled life.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Lulu essentially kidnaps Charles, handcuffing him and driving him out of Manhattan. What began as flirtation becomes a forced adventure. Charles loses control of his life—the catalyst that propels him into her wild world.. 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 Charles makes the active choice to continue with Lulu to her high school reunion in Pennsylvania, lying to his office about being sick. He chooses adventure over responsibility, crossing into Act Two., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Ray Sinclair, Lulu's violent ex-convict husband, appears at the reunion. False defeat: the fun is over. The stakes raise dramatically. What was a sexy adventure becomes dangerous. Ray's menace transforms the genre from romantic comedy to thriller., 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 (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ray viciously beats Charles in a store, humiliating him utterly. Charles is left broken and terrified. This is the lowest point—his physical and psychological collapse. The "whiff of death" as Charles's ego and his fantasy of being a hero die., shows 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. Charles decides to return and save Lulu. The synthesis: he combines his intelligence and resources (calling the police, planning) with his newfound courage and authenticity. He sees clearly what he must do and chooses to act., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Something Wild's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Something Wild against these established plot points, we can identify how Jonathan Demme utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Something Wild within the comedy genre.
Jonathan Demme's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Jonathan Demme films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Something Wild represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jonathan Demme filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jonathan Demme analyses, see Rachel Getting Married, Philadelphia and Married to the Mob.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Charles Driggs, a buttoned-up Manhattan yuppie businessman, skips out on a restaurant check in broad daylight—a small act of rebellion that reveals his repressed desire to break free from his rigid, controlled life.
Theme
Lulu (Audrey) tells Charles, "You're a closet rebel" and calls him out for being uptight and needing to let loose. This establishes the film's central theme: the tension between control and spontaneity, conformity and freedom.
Worldbuilding
Charles's ordinary world is established: successful investment consultant, recently separated, living a compartmentalized existence. Lulu watches him skip the check, confronts him playfully, and begins her seduction—revealing her free-spirited, dangerous spontaneity.
Disruption
Lulu essentially kidnaps Charles, handcuffing him and driving him out of Manhattan. What began as flirtation becomes a forced adventure. Charles loses control of his life—the catalyst that propels him into her wild world.
Resistance
Charles resists but is gradually seduced by Lulu's spontaneity. She takes him to a motel, they make love, she steals his wallet. He debates whether to escape or surrender to this chaos. He's not ready to fully embrace this life yet.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Charles makes the active choice to continue with Lulu to her high school reunion in Pennsylvania, lying to his office about being sick. He chooses adventure over responsibility, crossing into Act Two.
Mirror World
At the reunion, Charles meets Lulu's mother and small-town community. He pretends to be her husband "Charles Driggs," playing a role. This subplot relationship shows him an alternative to his uptight existence—a world of authenticity and roots.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Charles playing house with Lulu in small-town America. The promise of the premise: a yuppie gets to be wild. They attend the reunion, dance, drink, make love. Charles experiences liberation and genuine connection.
Midpoint
Ray Sinclair, Lulu's violent ex-convict husband, appears at the reunion. False defeat: the fun is over. The stakes raise dramatically. What was a sexy adventure becomes dangerous. Ray's menace transforms the genre from romantic comedy to thriller.
Opposition
Ray inserts himself into their lives, becoming increasingly threatening. Charles's cowardice is exposed—he can't protect Lulu. Ray manipulates and intimidates, revealing Charles's fundamental weakness. The antagonist closes in, and Charles's flaws catch up with him.
Collapse
Ray viciously beats Charles in a store, humiliating him utterly. Charles is left broken and terrified. This is the lowest point—his physical and psychological collapse. The "whiff of death" as Charles's ego and his fantasy of being a hero die.
Crisis
Charles processes his humiliation and fear. He must decide: return to his safe yuppie existence or find the courage to truly change. Lulu is in genuine danger. Charles sits with his failure and fear before finding new resolve.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Charles decides to return and save Lulu. The synthesis: he combines his intelligence and resources (calling the police, planning) with his newfound courage and authenticity. He sees clearly what he must do and chooses to act.
Synthesis
Charles returns to confront Ray at Lulu's mother's house. The climactic battle: Charles fights Ray, is nearly killed, but ultimately Ray dies in a violent struggle. Charles proves his transformation through action, rescuing Lulu and himself.
Transformation
Charles and Audrey (no longer "Lulu") drive away together in daylight, both transformed. He's no longer the uptight yuppie; she's no longer the wild persona. They've found a middle ground—authentic selves capable of both freedom and commitment.