The Philadelphia Experiment
In 1943, the United States tests an anti-radar system to make the U.S. Navy ships invisible to the enemy. Dr. James Longstreet uses his experiment in the destroyer escort USS Eldridge that disappears from Philadelphia. The sailors David Herdeg and his best friend Jim Parker are projected to 1984, where they meet Allison Hayes. They unsuccessfully try to contact their base and out of the blue Jimmy disappears in a hospital. Allison helps David to visit Jimmy's wife Pamela, but Jimmy refuses to see him. Now David's only hope is meeting Dr. James Longstreet to learn what to do. Will he succeed?
The film underperformed commercially against its tight budget of $9.0M, earning $8.1M globally (-10% loss).
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 Philadelphia Experiment (1984) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Stewart Raffill's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 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 October 1943: David Herdeg and Jim Parker are ordinary sailors aboard the USS Eldridge, preparing for a routine naval experiment. Their ordinary world is the wartime Navy, filled with camaraderie and duty.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The Philadelphia Experiment is activated and something goes catastrophically wrong. The ship becomes engulfed in an electrical storm, men are fused into the metal, and David and Jim are thrown through a time vortex, crashing into 1984.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Jim is killed trying to return to the vortex, and David actively chooses to survive in this new world. He accepts help from Allison, a woman who believes his story, and commits to finding answers about what happened., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat David and Allison discover that the 1984 experiment has created a catastrophic time rift that's growing, threatening to destroy the world. The stakes raise dramatically from personal survival to preventing an apocalypse. False defeat: they're being hunted and the problem is bigger than they imagined., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The vortex reaches critical mass and begins consuming everything. David realizes that to stop it, he must return to 1943 and shut down the original experiment, which means abandoning Allison and the life he could have in 1984. His hope for a future dies., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. David realizes he must sacrifice his future with Allison to save both timelines. He gains clarity that his duty and love for humanity transcend his personal desires. Armed with knowledge from 1984, he prepares to enter the vortex and return to 1943., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Philadelphia Experiment'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 Philadelphia Experiment against these established plot points, we can identify how Stewart Raffill utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Philadelphia Experiment within the adventure genre.
Stewart Raffill's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Stewart Raffill films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Philadelphia Experiment takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Stewart Raffill filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Stewart Raffill analyses, see The Ice Pirates, Mac and Me.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
October 1943: David Herdeg and Jim Parker are ordinary sailors aboard the USS Eldridge, preparing for a routine naval experiment. Their ordinary world is the wartime Navy, filled with camaraderie and duty.
Theme
A scientist warns about the dangers of tampering with forces beyond human control, suggesting that some experiments shouldn't be conducted. This foreshadows the film's exploration of unintended consequences and man vs. technology.
Worldbuilding
Establishes 1943 naval setting, the crew dynamics aboard the Eldridge, the experimental radar invisibility technology being tested, and the relationship between David and Jim. Shows the world of WWII military experimentation.
Disruption
The Philadelphia Experiment is activated and something goes catastrophically wrong. The ship becomes engulfed in an electrical storm, men are fused into the metal, and David and Jim are thrown through a time vortex, crashing into 1984.
Resistance
David and Jim struggle to understand what happened to them, discovering they're in 1984. They resist accepting this impossible reality, steal clothes, evade authorities, and debate whether this is real or if they've gone mad.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jim is killed trying to return to the vortex, and David actively chooses to survive in this new world. He accepts help from Allison, a woman who believes his story, and commits to finding answers about what happened.
Mirror World
David develops a connection with Allison Hayes, who represents life and love in this new world. She becomes his anchor to 1984 and embodies the theme of human connection transcending time and circumstances.
Premise
David explores 1984 with Allison, experiencing the future world while investigating what happened. They uncover evidence of the original experiment and discover that a new version is being conducted, creating a dangerous temporal rift.
Midpoint
David and Allison discover that the 1984 experiment has created a catastrophic time rift that's growing, threatening to destroy the world. The stakes raise dramatically from personal survival to preventing an apocalypse. False defeat: they're being hunted and the problem is bigger than they imagined.
Opposition
Military and government forces close in on David. The time rift grows worse, causing destructive phenomena. David's displacement makes him unstable, and he struggles with the physical toll of being outside his timeline while racing to stop the experiment.
Collapse
The vortex reaches critical mass and begins consuming everything. David realizes that to stop it, he must return to 1943 and shut down the original experiment, which means abandoning Allison and the life he could have in 1984. His hope for a future dies.
Crisis
David grapples with the impossible choice between saving the world and staying with Allison. He processes the loss of his chance at happiness in 1984 and confronts his responsibility to history and humanity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
David realizes he must sacrifice his future with Allison to save both timelines. He gains clarity that his duty and love for humanity transcend his personal desires. Armed with knowledge from 1984, he prepares to enter the vortex and return to 1943.
Synthesis
David enters the vortex and returns to 1943 aboard the Eldridge. Using knowledge from the future, he sabotages the experiment equipment, shutting it down and collapsing the vortex. He prevents the disaster and restores the timeline, even though it means losing Allison.
Transformation
David awakens in 1984, having lived through the decades normally. He's an old man now who finds Allison again, suggesting that love and human connection can transcend even temporal manipulation. He's transformed from a man running from responsibility to one who embraced sacrifice and found redemption.