The Neighbor
A middle-aged man in a stagnant marriage, finds his life upended when an attractive young woman and her seemingly abusive husband move in next door.
The film earned $5.5M at the global box office.
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 Neighbor (2020) reveals strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Aaron Harvey's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes A young woman moves into a new apartment, seeking a fresh start and independence in the city.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when She discovers unsettling behavior from Mike—he knows things about her he shouldn't, and she finds him watching her through her window.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to She decides to stay and investigate Mike herself, installing cameras and digging into his past, crossing into a dangerous game., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat She discovers Mike has been breaking into her apartment, and evidence suggests he may have harmed previous tenants. Stakes raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mike attacks her ally, who ends up hospitalized or dead. She realizes she's completely alone and Mike will not stop until he destroys her., indicates 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. She finds crucial evidence of Mike's crimes and realizes she must take a stand—not just for herself, but to stop him from harming others., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Neighbor's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Neighbor against these established plot points, we can identify how Aaron Harvey utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Neighbor within the thriller genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include Eye for an Eye, Lake Placid and Operation Finale.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
A young woman moves into a new apartment, seeking a fresh start and independence in the city.
Theme
A neighbor warns her: "Sometimes the people closest to us are the ones we should fear most."
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the apartment building, neighbors, and the protagonist's new life. She meets Mike, the charming neighbor across the hall.
Disruption
She discovers unsettling behavior from Mike—he knows things about her he shouldn't, and she finds him watching her through her window.
Resistance
She confides in friends and building management, but no one believes her. She debates whether to move out or confront the situation, gathering evidence.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
She decides to stay and investigate Mike herself, installing cameras and digging into his past, crossing into a dangerous game.
Mirror World
She connects with another tenant who had similar experiences with Mike, providing both alliance and thematic reflection on trust and vulnerability.
Premise
Cat-and-mouse game intensifies. She uncovers Mike's dark history while he escalates his intrusion into her life, creating mounting suspense.
Midpoint
She discovers Mike has been breaking into her apartment, and evidence suggests he may have harmed previous tenants. Stakes raise dramatically.
Opposition
Mike becomes openly threatening. Her allies distance themselves out of fear. Police are ineffective. She's increasingly isolated and endangered.
Collapse
Mike attacks her ally, who ends up hospitalized or dead. She realizes she's completely alone and Mike will not stop until he destroys her.
Crisis
In her darkest moment, she processes the trauma and fear, nearly succumbing to despair and considering fleeing permanently.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
She finds crucial evidence of Mike's crimes and realizes she must take a stand—not just for herself, but to stop him from harming others.
Synthesis
She sets a trap for Mike, using what she learned about him. Final confrontation where she fights back with intelligence and courage, ultimately defeating him.
Transformation
She stands in her apartment, no longer a victim but a survivor who has reclaimed her space and autonomy, transformed by her ordeal.