The Host
A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.
Working with a moderate budget of $44.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $63.3M in global revenue (+44% profit margin).
1 win & 2 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%)
The Host (2013) exemplifies carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Andrew Niccol's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 6 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening narration establishes Earth has been invaded by parasitic alien Souls who inhabit human bodies. The world appears peaceful but humanity has been subjugated, setting up the dystopian premise of lost identity and control.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Melanie's consciousness overwhelms Wanderer with powerful memories of Jared and her love for him. Wanderer realizes she cannot suppress this host and begins to feel Melanie's emotions as her own, disrupting her mission as a Soul.. 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 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Wanderer steals a car and drives into the desert to find Jeb's hideout, actively choosing to betray her own kind. She crosses into the wilderness, following Melanie's mental directions, committing fully to finding the human resistance rather than turning them in., moving from reaction to action.
At 63 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Wanda reveals crucial information about how Souls operate and offers to help the humans raid Soul supply centers for medicine and food. The community begins to accept her as an ally rather than an enemy, marking a false victory as she finds belonging among humans., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 95 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Seeker discovers the cave hideout and infiltrates it. The humans capture her, but this reveals how close the Souls are to finding them all. Wanda realizes she must sacrifice herself to save both the community and give Melanie her body back—the whiff of death as she contemplates ending her existence., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 101 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Wanda teaches Doc how to safely remove Souls without killing the host body, using the captured Seeker as proof it works. She then reveals her plan: she will be extracted from Melanie's body and sent away to another planet, giving Melanie her life back. This synthesizes her Soul knowledge with her human love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Host'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 The Host against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Niccol utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Host within the action genre.
Andrew Niccol's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Andrew Niccol films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.5, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Host represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew Niccol filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Andrew Niccol analyses, see In Time, Gattaca and Lord of War.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening narration establishes Earth has been invaded by parasitic alien Souls who inhabit human bodies. The world appears peaceful but humanity has been subjugated, setting up the dystopian premise of lost identity and control.
Theme
The Seeker tells Wanderer that humans are violent and dangerous, but their emotions make them unpredictable. This establishes the thematic question: are human emotions a weakness or our greatest strength?
Worldbuilding
We learn the rules of this invaded world: Souls take over human bodies, Seekers hunt remaining humans, and Melanie was captured while protecting her brother Jamie. Wanderer is implanted into Melanie's body but discovers Melanie's consciousness persists, fighting back with memories of Jared and her family.
Disruption
Melanie's consciousness overwhelms Wanderer with powerful memories of Jared and her love for him. Wanderer realizes she cannot suppress this host and begins to feel Melanie's emotions as her own, disrupting her mission as a Soul.
Resistance
Wanderer debates internally with Melanie about what to do. Melanie guides Wanderer with memories of her uncle Jeb's hidden refuge in the desert. The Seeker becomes suspicious and aggressive, pushing Wanderer to make a choice. Wanderer resists reporting the humans' location but struggles with her loyalty to her species.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Wanderer steals a car and drives into the desert to find Jeb's hideout, actively choosing to betray her own kind. She crosses into the wilderness, following Melanie's mental directions, committing fully to finding the human resistance rather than turning them in.
Mirror World
Wanderer is discovered by Jeb and the human survivors in the cave system. She meets Ian, who will become her own love interest separate from Melanie's feelings for Jared. This introduces the dual romance that will explore whether Wanderer can develop her own identity and connections.
Premise
Wanderer (now called Wanda) navigates life among suspicious humans in the cave colony. She proves herself by working alongside them, develops feelings for Ian while Melanie yearns for Jared. The dual consciousness creates complex romantic tensions as both entities fall in love with different men in the same body.
Midpoint
Wanda reveals crucial information about how Souls operate and offers to help the humans raid Soul supply centers for medicine and food. The community begins to accept her as an ally rather than an enemy, marking a false victory as she finds belonging among humans.
Opposition
The Seeker intensifies her hunt, getting closer to the hideout. Internal tensions rise as some humans still don't trust Wanda. Jared struggles with his feelings since Melanie is inside but Wanda controls the body. The romantic quadrangle creates painful complications as Ian falls deeper for Wanda while Melanie suffers watching Jared's confusion.
Collapse
The Seeker discovers the cave hideout and infiltrates it. The humans capture her, but this reveals how close the Souls are to finding them all. Wanda realizes she must sacrifice herself to save both the community and give Melanie her body back—the whiff of death as she contemplates ending her existence.
Crisis
Wanda processes the weight of her decision. She has found love with Ian and belonging with the humans, but Melanie deserves her body and life back. Wanda quietly prepares for her extraction, saying goodbye to Ian without revealing her plan, accepting that her sacrifice is the only moral choice.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Wanda teaches Doc how to safely remove Souls without killing the host body, using the captured Seeker as proof it works. She then reveals her plan: she will be extracted from Melanie's body and sent away to another planet, giving Melanie her life back. This synthesizes her Soul knowledge with her human love.
Synthesis
The extraction is performed. Wanda is removed and Melanie awakens in her own body, reuniting with Jared. However, instead of sending Wanda away, the humans implant her into a new host body—a young woman whose original consciousness had already faded. Wanda awakens to find Ian waiting for her, finally having her own body and her own love.
Transformation
Wanda, now in her own body, stands alongside Melanie as equals—two women, human and Soul, who found love and family together. They encounter another group of human survivors who also have a friendly Soul among them, suggesting coexistence is possible. The invasion may end not through war but through love and understanding.