The Faculty
When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make the chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet!
Despite a mid-range budget of $15.0M, The Faculty became a financial success, earning $40.3M worldwide—a 169% 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 Faculty (1998) showcases strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Robert Rodriguez's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Casey Connor
Delilah Profitt
Zeke Tyler
Stokely Mitchell
Stan Rosado
Marybeth Louise Hutchinson
Principal Drake
Miss Elizabeth Burke
Main Cast & Characters
Casey Connor
Played by Elijah Wood
A social outcast and brilliant student who discovers the alien invasion and becomes the unlikely hero.
Delilah Profitt
Played by Jordana Brewster
The ambitious head cheerleader and editor of the school paper who initially antagonizes Casey but becomes an ally.
Zeke Tyler
Played by Josh Hartnett
The rebellious older student and drug dealer who becomes the group's pragmatic leader with scientific knowledge.
Stokely Mitchell
Played by Clea DuVall
A goth loner who pretends to be a lesbian to avoid attention, hiding her true vulnerable self.
Stan Rosado
Played by Shawn Hatosy
The star quarterback who quits football to pursue his real interests, challenging social expectations.
Marybeth Louise Hutchinson
Played by Laura Harris
The sweet, naive new girl who joins the group and proves surprisingly resourceful.
Principal Drake
Played by Bebe Neuwirth
The school principal who becomes one of the first victims of the alien parasites.
Miss Elizabeth Burke
Played by Salma Hayek
The nurse who is among the first infected and displays disturbing behavior.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Herrington High School at night. Coach Willis discovers a strange creature on the football field. The faculty meeting establishes the mundane world of underfunded education and frustrated teachers before the horror begins.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Casey and Delilah hide in the faculty closet investigating a story and witness Mrs. Olson and Coach Willis attacking the school nurse with an alien parasite, forcibly infecting her. The horror is no longer hidden - they've seen the invasion firsthand.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The group witnesses Mr. Furlong transform and attack. They realize the invasion is real and they cannot trust any adult. They make the active choice to fight back rather than submit, choosing to stick together and find a way to identify and destroy the aliens., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Delilah is revealed to be infected and attacks the group. The paranoia reaches its peak - even their own members can't be trusted. The school goes into full lockdown and the infection has spread to most students. The aliens are winning and the group is fractured., 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, Marybeth fully transforms into the alien queen, a massive tentacled creature. She mortally wounds Stokely and corners the remaining survivors. Nearly everyone they know is infected. The situation appears hopeless - they're just teenagers against an alien invasion that has already won., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Casey realizes that Zeke's drug - the symbol of teenage rebellion against conformity - is the weapon that can kill the queen. The misfit's homemade contraband becomes humanity's salvation. Casey chooses to stop running and confront the queen directly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Faculty'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 Faculty against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Rodriguez utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Faculty within the horror genre.
Robert Rodriguez's Structural Approach
Among the 14 Robert Rodriguez films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Faculty takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Rodriguez filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Thinner, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Mary Reilly. For more Robert Rodriguez analyses, see Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Herrington High School at night. Coach Willis discovers a strange creature on the football field. The faculty meeting establishes the mundane world of underfunded education and frustrated teachers before the horror begins.
Theme
Stokely tells Casey that high school is about conformity - being like everyone else or being destroyed. This reflects the film's theme that alienation comes from societal pressure to conform, literalized through alien body-snatchers who eliminate individuality.
Worldbuilding
We meet the ensemble: Casey the bullied photographer, Delilah the ambitious journalist, Stokely the goth loner, Stan the jock questioning his identity, Zeke the brilliant underachiever dealing drugs, and new student Marybeth. Each character represents a high school archetype trapped in their role.
Disruption
Casey and Delilah hide in the faculty closet investigating a story and witness Mrs. Olson and Coach Willis attacking the school nurse with an alien parasite, forcibly infecting her. The horror is no longer hidden - they've seen the invasion firsthand.
Resistance
Casey and Delilah try to convince others of what they saw. No one believes them. Casey discovers a strange organism on the football field. Zeke analyzes the creature in his home lab - it's an aquatic parasite that takes over hosts. The group debates whether they're crazy or if the invasion is real.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group witnesses Mr. Furlong transform and attack. They realize the invasion is real and they cannot trust any adult. They make the active choice to fight back rather than submit, choosing to stick together and find a way to identify and destroy the aliens.
Mirror World
The six outcasts - jock, nerd, cheerleader, goth, dealer, and new girl - form an unlikely alliance. Their differences that kept them apart in normal high school become strengths. Casey and Delilah's relationship deepens; the group dynamic embodies the theme that true connection comes from embracing individuality rather than conformity.
Premise
Classic body-snatcher paranoia sequences. The group uses Zeke's homemade drugs to test who's human - the alien parasites can't tolerate the substance. They navigate the school identifying infected students and faculty, working together while hiding from the spreading infection. Genre thrills delivered through teen ensemble dynamics.
Midpoint
False defeat: Delilah is revealed to be infected and attacks the group. The paranoia reaches its peak - even their own members can't be trusted. The school goes into full lockdown and the infection has spread to most students. The aliens are winning and the group is fractured.
Opposition
The remaining group members are hunted through the school. Stan is infected. They learn the alien queen must be killed to free all hosts. Suspicion mounts as they realize the queen could be any of them. Marybeth is revealed as the alien queen in disguise - the newest outsider was the ultimate threat all along.
Collapse
Marybeth fully transforms into the alien queen, a massive tentacled creature. She mortally wounds Stokely and corners the remaining survivors. Nearly everyone they know is infected. The situation appears hopeless - they're just teenagers against an alien invasion that has already won.
Crisis
The survivors are separated and hunted through the school gymnasium and pool area. Casey realizes he must face the queen alone - the ultimate test for the bullied kid who was always running away. He must become the hero no one expected.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Casey realizes that Zeke's drug - the symbol of teenage rebellion against conformity - is the weapon that can kill the queen. The misfit's homemade contraband becomes humanity's salvation. Casey chooses to stop running and confront the queen directly.
Synthesis
Final battle in the gymnasium and pool. Casey confronts the queen in an extended action sequence. Zeke provides support with his drug-weapons. Casey stabs the queen with a pen filled with the drug, destroying her. All infected humans are freed as the queen dies, returning to their former selves.
Transformation
One month later: Casey is now a celebrated hero, dating Delilah. Stokely has softened, dating Stan. Zeke has channeled his intelligence legitimately. The outcasts have transformed - not by conforming, but by being celebrated for their authentic selves. The school has changed to accept them rather than them changing to fit in.