The Darkness
A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation with a supernatural presence in tow.
Despite its modest budget of $4.0M, The Darkness became a box office success, earning $10.9M worldwide—a 173% return.
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 Darkness (2016) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Greg McLean'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 7.8, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Taylor family - Peter, Bronny, Stephanie, and autistic son Michael - arrive at the Grand Canyon for a vacation with friends, presenting an idyllic suburban family taking a nature trip.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Michael falls into a hidden cave and discovers five ancient black stones with Anasazi symbols. He takes them home, unknowingly releasing the Anasazi demons trapped within.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to After escalating supernatural events - including a neighbor's dog being killed and Michael's increasingly disturbing behavior - Peter and Bronny acknowledge something is seriously wrong and commit to investigating what is happening to their son., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The family discovers the true nature of the threat: the five stones represent five Anasazi demons that must possess the family members to fully manifest. Michael is revealed to be increasingly under their control - this is not just a haunting, but an invasion targeting their souls., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Michael is fully possessed and attacks the family. The house becomes a portal of darkness. The family realizes their son may be lost forever and conventional means cannot save him. All hope seems extinguished., demonstrates 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. A Hispanic spiritual healer who understands Anasazi mythology arrives to help. She explains the demons can only be defeated by returning the stones to their sacred place and performing a ritual. The family commits to fighting together as a united front., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Darkness'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 Darkness against these established plot points, we can identify how Greg McLean utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Darkness within the horror genre.
Greg McLean's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Greg McLean films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Darkness represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Greg McLean filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Greg McLean analyses, see Wolf Creek 2, The Belko Experiment and Rogue.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Taylor family - Peter, Bronny, Stephanie, and autistic son Michael - arrive at the Grand Canyon for a vacation with friends, presenting an idyllic suburban family taking a nature trip.
Theme
A character mentions the ancient Anasazi people and their beliefs about spirits dwelling in the canyon, foreshadowing that disturbing sacred ground has consequences - what we take from the past can follow us home.
Worldbuilding
The family dynamic is established: Peter and Bronny's strained marriage, Stephanie's bulimia struggles, and Michael's autism which makes him sensitive to the supernatural. The canyon vacation shows a family trying to reconnect.
Disruption
Michael falls into a hidden cave and discovers five ancient black stones with Anasazi symbols. He takes them home, unknowingly releasing the Anasazi demons trapped within.
Resistance
The family returns home. Strange occurrences begin - hand prints on walls, faucets turning on, Michael talking to an invisible friend named Jenny. Peter and Bronny dismiss the signs as Michael's behavior quirks.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After escalating supernatural events - including a neighbor's dog being killed and Michael's increasingly disturbing behavior - Peter and Bronny acknowledge something is seriously wrong and commit to investigating what is happening to their son.
Mirror World
Bronny confides in her sister about the family troubles, revealing deeper issues - Peter's past infidelity and her own struggles. The Mirror World relationship exposes that the family was fractured before the demons arrived; the supernatural threat externalizes their internal brokenness.
Premise
The haunting intensifies: supernatural manifestations grow more violent, Michael communes with the demons, the family researches the Anasazi spirits. Each family member's personal demons are exploited by the supernatural ones.
Midpoint
The family discovers the true nature of the threat: the five stones represent five Anasazi demons that must possess the family members to fully manifest. Michael is revealed to be increasingly under their control - this is not just a haunting, but an invasion targeting their souls.
Opposition
The demons attack each family member's weakness: Stephanie's eating disorder worsens, Bronny's drinking increases, Peter is tempted by his former mistress. Traditional help fails - doctors and priests cannot stop the escalation. Michael becomes more possessed.
Collapse
Michael is fully possessed and attacks the family. The house becomes a portal of darkness. The family realizes their son may be lost forever and conventional means cannot save him. All hope seems extinguished.
Crisis
The family is at their lowest. They must face not only the demons but their own failures - Peter's betrayal, Bronny's addiction, their neglect of their daughter. Only by confronting their brokenness can they find a way to fight.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
A Hispanic spiritual healer who understands Anasazi mythology arrives to help. She explains the demons can only be defeated by returning the stones to their sacred place and performing a ritual. The family commits to fighting together as a united front.
Synthesis
The cleansing ritual begins. The family must work together to banish each demon by reclaiming their unity and love. Peter and Bronny reconcile. They confront the darkness both supernatural and within themselves, performing the Anasazi ritual to seal the demons.
Transformation
The demons are banished and Michael is freed. The family, now genuinely unified through their ordeal, is shown together and healing. The stones are gone, the house is cleansed. Unlike their fractured vacation at the start, they are now truly connected.