Taking Lives
Recruited to assist Montreal police in their desperate search for a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, FBI profiler Illeana Scott knows it's only a matter of time before the killer strikes again. Her most promising lead is a museum employee who might be the killer's only eyewitness.
Working with a mid-range budget of $45.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $65.5M in global revenue (+45% 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%)
Taking Lives (2004) exhibits precise story structure, characteristic of D.J. Caruso's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Illeana Scott
James Costa
Martin Asher
Paquette
Leclair
Mrs. Asher
Main Cast & Characters
Illeana Scott
Played by Angelina Jolie
An FBI profiler specializing in tracking serial killers, methodical and intuitive in her investigative approach.
James Costa
Played by Ethan Hawke
A mysterious art dealer who becomes the key witness in a serial killer investigation, charming yet enigmatic.
Martin Asher
Played by Kiefer Sutherland
A serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims, transforming himself to evade capture.
Paquette
Played by Olivier Martinez
A Canadian police officer working on the serial killer case, methodical and by-the-book.
Leclair
Played by Tchéky Karyo
A senior detective on the Montreal police force investigating the identity-theft murders.
Mrs. Asher
Played by Gena Rowlands
Martin Asher's mother, haunted by her son's dark nature and complicit in hiding the truth.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes 1983 flashback: teenage Martin Asher befriends a hitchhiker on a Canadian ferry, then brutally murders him and assumes his identity, establishing the killer's modus operandi of taking lives to become someone new.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Art dealer James Costa witnesses a brutal murder in an alley and intervenes, getting slashed by the killer but surviving. He becomes the only witness to have seen the identity-stealing killer's face.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Illeana commits fully to the case when she visits Rebecca Asher (Gena Rowlands), the killer's mother, who reveals Martin faked his death years ago. Illeana now has a name and history for her quarry, and chooses to pursue this deeply personal investigation., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Illeana and Costa sleep together, crossing a professional line. This false victory represents intimacy and connection for Illeana, but the audience senses something is wrong. The investigation seems to be progressing as they identify potential victims., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The devastating truth is revealed: James Costa IS Martin Asher—there is no twin brother. He has been manipulating Illeana from the start, and she slept with the serial killer she was hunting. Her professional credibility is destroyed and a colleague is killed., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Months later, Illeana has set a trap. Appearing pregnant and living alone in a farmhouse, she has used herself as bait knowing Asher's obsession will draw him back. She chooses to confront her failure head-on rather than remain a victim., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Taking Lives's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Taking Lives against these established plot points, we can identify how D.J. Caruso utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Taking Lives within the thriller genre.
D.J. Caruso's Structural Approach
Among the 7 D.J. Caruso films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Taking Lives takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete D.J. Caruso filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include The Warriors, Thunderball and Rustom. For more D.J. Caruso analyses, see Eagle Eye, xXx: Return of Xander Cage and Redeeming Love.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
1983 flashback: teenage Martin Asher befriends a hitchhiker on a Canadian ferry, then brutally murders him and assumes his identity, establishing the killer's modus operandi of taking lives to become someone new.
Theme
Montreal detective Paquette explains to colleagues that this killer doesn't just murder his victims—he becomes them, taking their identities completely. The theme of identity theft as a form of psychological erasure is established.
Worldbuilding
FBI profiler Illeana Scott is introduced lying in graves at crime scenes to understand victims. She arrives in Montreal, meets the skeptical local detectives, and examines the latest victim. Her unconventional methods and isolated personality are established.
Disruption
Art dealer James Costa witnesses a brutal murder in an alley and intervenes, getting slashed by the killer but surviving. He becomes the only witness to have seen the identity-stealing killer's face.
Resistance
Illeana interviews Costa about what he witnessed and works to gain his trust. She studies the killer's pattern of assuming victims' lives. The detectives debate whether Costa is reliable. Mrs. Asher identifies the composite as her supposedly dead son Martin.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Illeana commits fully to the case when she visits Rebecca Asher (Gena Rowlands), the killer's mother, who reveals Martin faked his death years ago. Illeana now has a name and history for her quarry, and chooses to pursue this deeply personal investigation.
Mirror World
Illeana begins to form a personal connection with James Costa beyond the professional. He represents a potential romantic future and human connection for the isolated profiler, though this relationship will ultimately test whether she can trust her own instincts.
Premise
The investigation intensifies as Illeana profiles the killer's psychology—his need to become others because he has no self. She grows closer to Costa while tracking leads. Another body is discovered. The cat-and-mouse game between profiler and serial killer unfolds.
Midpoint
Illeana and Costa sleep together, crossing a professional line. This false victory represents intimacy and connection for Illeana, but the audience senses something is wrong. The investigation seems to be progressing as they identify potential victims.
Opposition
Evidence begins pointing toward Costa himself. Illeana's colleagues grow suspicious while she defends him. Another murder occurs. The twin brother subplot emerges—Costa claims his twin is the real killer. Illeana's judgment is questioned as her emotional involvement compromises the case.
Collapse
The devastating truth is revealed: James Costa IS Martin Asher—there is no twin brother. He has been manipulating Illeana from the start, and she slept with the serial killer she was hunting. Her professional credibility is destroyed and a colleague is killed.
Crisis
Illeana is removed from the case in disgrace. Asher escapes. She must confront how completely she was deceived—her gift for reading people failed her utterly. The FBI profiler became the victim of the ultimate manipulation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Months later, Illeana has set a trap. Appearing pregnant and living alone in a farmhouse, she has used herself as bait knowing Asher's obsession will draw him back. She chooses to confront her failure head-on rather than remain a victim.
Synthesis
Asher arrives at the farmhouse, believing Illeana is pregnant with his child. The confrontation unfolds as he attacks her. She reveals the pregnancy was fake—prosthetics and padding. She fights back, using her understanding of his psychology against him.
Transformation
Illeana kills Martin Asher with gardening shears, ending his reign of stolen identities. She stands over his body, transformed from victim to victor. The profiler who lies in graves has put this killer in one, reclaiming her identity and power.