The Huntsman: Winter's War
Evil sorceress Queen Ravenna's powers allow her to know that her younger sister Freya, whose powers have not yet emerged, is not only involved in an illicit affair with an already elsewhere engaged nobleman Andrew, but is also pregnant with his child. Sometime after Freya gives birth to a baby girl, Freya discovers that Andrew not only reneged on his promise of elopement with her but also murdered their child. In a grief-fueled rage, her broken heart freezes over and she kills him with her sudden emergence of powers - the elemental control of ice..
Working with a significant budget of $115.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $165.0M in global revenue (+43% 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%)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016) exhibits carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Cedric Nicolas-Troyan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 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 Ravenna's narration establishes the world of magic and power. Queen Freya lives peacefully in her sister's kingdom, in love with a nobleman, before tragedy strikes.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Young Eric and Sara are kidnapped as children by Freya's huntsmen. Freya decrees her one law: "Love is forbidden." Children are raised as her army of Huntsmen.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Eric and Sara attempt their escape and confess their love. Freya discovers them, forces Eric to watch as Sara is apparently killed by ice arrows. Eric is banished in grief., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Eric is frozen in ice by Freya, moments from death. Sara watches, torn. One of the dwarf companions appears to die. All hope seems lost as Freya and Ravenna's combined power is unstoppable., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Final battle in the ice palace. Eric and Sara fight Ravenna while Huntsmen rebel against Freya. Ravenna betrays Freya, revealing she caused Freya's lover to kill their child years ago. Freya, heartbroken but redeemed, sacrifices herself to destroy Ravenna and save Eric and Sara., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Huntsman: Winter's War's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Huntsman: Winter's War against these established plot points, we can identify how Cedric Nicolas-Troyan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Huntsman: Winter's War within the action genre.
Cedric Nicolas-Troyan's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Cedric Nicolas-Troyan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Huntsman: Winter's War takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Cedric Nicolas-Troyan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Cedric Nicolas-Troyan analyses, see Kate.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ravenna's narration establishes the world of magic and power. Queen Freya lives peacefully in her sister's kingdom, in love with a nobleman, before tragedy strikes.
Theme
Ravenna tells Freya: "Love is a trick. A spell cast by the desperate." The film's central question: Can love survive betrayal and loss?
Worldbuilding
Freya's happiness with her lover, her pregnancy, and the devastating betrayal when he murders their infant child. Freya's ice powers awaken in grief, she kills him and flees to the North to build an ice kingdom.
Disruption
Young Eric and Sara are kidnapped as children by Freya's huntsmen. Freya decrees her one law: "Love is forbidden." Children are raised as her army of Huntsmen.
Resistance
Years pass. Eric and Sara grow into elite Huntsmen, conquering kingdoms for Freya. Despite the forbidden law, they fall secretly in love. They plan to escape together.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eric and Sara attempt their escape and confess their love. Freya discovers them, forces Eric to watch as Sara is apparently killed by ice arrows. Eric is banished in grief.
Mirror World
Seven years later. Snow White's kingdom faces a new threat. Eric is recruited by dwarves to retrieve the Magic Mirror before it reaches Freya. The Mirror represents the corrupting power of obsession vs. redemptive power of love.
Premise
Eric's quest to find the Magic Mirror. He reluctantly teams with two female dwarves. They journey through enchanted forests, face goblins, and navigate the Sanctuary where the Mirror was hidden. Humor and adventure as the unlikely team bonds.
Opposition
Sara betrays Eric, stealing the Mirror for Freya. Eric and the dwarves are captured and brought to Freya's ice palace. Ravenna is resurrected from the Mirror, reuniting the two sisters. The queens' power grows as they plan to conquer all kingdoms.
Collapse
Eric is frozen in ice by Freya, moments from death. Sara watches, torn. One of the dwarf companions appears to die. All hope seems lost as Freya and Ravenna's combined power is unstoppable.
Crisis
In the ice, Eric's tears of true love break Freya's spell. Sara realizes the truth: Freya manipulated her memories, made her believe Eric abandoned her. Sara faces her own dark night—she served a lie.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Final battle in the ice palace. Eric and Sara fight Ravenna while Huntsmen rebel against Freya. Ravenna betrays Freya, revealing she caused Freya's lover to kill their child years ago. Freya, heartbroken but redeemed, sacrifices herself to destroy Ravenna and save Eric and Sara.