The Brood
A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband's investigation.
Despite its tight budget of $1.4M, The Brood became a solid performer, earning $5.0M worldwide—a 269% return. The film's unique voice found its audience, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
The Brood (1979) reveals deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of David Cronenberg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 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 Frank visits his wife Nola at Dr. Raglan's Somafree Institute. Through a two-way mirror, he watches a disturbing psychoplasmics therapy session where Raglan role-plays as Nola's abusive father, revealing a deeply troubled marriage and psychological trauma.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Candice's teacher Juliana visits Nola's mother Juliana Kelley, who reveals disturbing family history of abuse. Juliana is brutally murdered by strange, dwarf-like creatures in bright snowsuits who beat her to death with kitchen implements. The supernatural/horror element erupts into the story.. At 11% 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Nola's father Barton is murdered by the same dwarf-like creatures at his home. Frank actively commits to investigating the connection between the murders, Nola's family, and the Somafree Institute. He decides to keep Candice away from Nola and pursue the truth, entering the dangerous mystery., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Frank confronts Dr. Raglan and discovers the truth: Nola is giving birth to the creatures—"the brood"—physical manifestations of her rage. They are her children, born from external wombs created by her psychological trauma. The full horror is revealed: Nola's anger literally creates murderous offspring. The stakes are raised as Frank realizes his daughter is in mortal danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The brood attacks Ruth Mayer's home. Ruth is brutally murdered trying to protect Candice. The creatures kidnap Candice and take her to Nola at the institute. Frank loses his ally and his daughter is in the hands of a monster. All hope seems lost., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Frank realizes the only way to save Candice is to calm Nola—to keep her emotions stable so the brood won't kill. He must suppress his own rage and horror, becoming the opposite of what Nola represents. He enters her room to negotiate for Candice's life, using emotional manipulation rather than force., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Brood'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 The Brood against these established plot points, we can identify how David Cronenberg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Brood within the horror genre.
David Cronenberg's Structural Approach
Among the 12 David Cronenberg films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Brood represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Cronenberg filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more David Cronenberg analyses, see The Dead Zone, Spider and Eastern Promises.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Frank visits his wife Nola at Dr. Raglan's Somafree Institute. Through a two-way mirror, he watches a disturbing psychoplasmics therapy session where Raglan role-plays as Nola's abusive father, revealing a deeply troubled marriage and psychological trauma.
Theme
Dr. Raglan explains psychoplasmics to Frank: "You're teaching people to make themselves sick?" Raglan: "No, I'm teaching people that they have the power to make themselves well." The central theme: rage and psychological trauma manifesting as physical illness and violence.
Worldbuilding
Frank picks up his daughter Candice from the institute and discovers bruises and scratches on her back. He confronts Nola, who becomes defensive. We learn Frank and Nola are separated, Candice visits her mother on weekends, and Frank is seeking custody. The family's dysfunction and Nola's mental instability are established.
Disruption
Candice's teacher Juliana visits Nola's mother Juliana Kelley, who reveals disturbing family history of abuse. Juliana is brutally murdered by strange, dwarf-like creatures in bright snowsuits who beat her to death with kitchen implements. The supernatural/horror element erupts into the story.
Resistance
Frank investigates psychoplasmics and Dr. Raglan's methods. He meets with Mike Trellan, a former patient with visible tumors and lymphatic growths. Frank learns that psychoplasmics causes physical manifestations of psychological trauma. He seeks legal help and tries to gain custody of Candice, while the police investigate Juliana's murder.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nola's father Barton is murdered by the same dwarf-like creatures at his home. Frank actively commits to investigating the connection between the murders, Nola's family, and the Somafree Institute. He decides to keep Candice away from Nola and pursue the truth, entering the dangerous mystery.
Mirror World
Frank develops a relationship with Candice's teacher Ruth Mayer, who helps care for Candice. Ruth represents normalcy, stability, and the possibility of healthy relationships—a thematic contrast to Nola's toxic psychology and Frank's traumatic marriage.
Premise
Frank investigates the creatures and psychoplasmics while protecting Candice. He discovers Mike Trellan was part of Raglan's experiments. The police find no conventional suspects for the murders. Frank begins to suspect a connection between Nola's emotional states and the killings. Tension builds as he tries to understand the horror he's facing.
Midpoint
Frank confronts Dr. Raglan and discovers the truth: Nola is giving birth to the creatures—"the brood"—physical manifestations of her rage. They are her children, born from external wombs created by her psychological trauma. The full horror is revealed: Nola's anger literally creates murderous offspring. The stakes are raised as Frank realizes his daughter is in mortal danger.
Opposition
Frank tries to keep Candice safe while the brood continues to kill anyone who angers Nola. Nola becomes increasingly unstable and demands to see Candice. Raglan realizes his experiment has gone too far but can't control Nola. Frank discovers Candice has small bumps on her skin—signs she may be developing the same ability. The danger intensifies.
Collapse
The brood attacks Ruth Mayer's home. Ruth is brutally murdered trying to protect Candice. The creatures kidnap Candice and take her to Nola at the institute. Frank loses his ally and his daughter is in the hands of a monster. All hope seems lost.
Crisis
Frank races to the Somafree Institute in desperation. Dr. Raglan is killed by the brood when he tries to intervene. Frank is alone, facing the full horror of what Nola has become. He must find a way to save Candice from her own mother.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Frank realizes the only way to save Candice is to calm Nola—to keep her emotions stable so the brood won't kill. He must suppress his own rage and horror, becoming the opposite of what Nola represents. He enters her room to negotiate for Candice's life, using emotional manipulation rather than force.
Synthesis
Frank confronts Nola in her room, where she shows him her latest "birth"—licking clean a newborn creature from an external womb on her body. He keeps her talking and calm while signaling Candice to escape. When Nola realizes Candice is leaving, her rage triggers the brood to attack. Frank strangles Nola to death, and the brood dies with her.
Transformation
Frank drives away with Candice. In the backseat, he tenderly touches her arm—and discovers small bumps forming on her skin. The cycle of trauma and rage will continue into the next generation. Frank's horror mirrors the opening, but now he understands the monster he's truly facing: inherited psychological trauma made flesh.