The Raid
Blizzard Entertainment's critically-acclaimed 'World of Warcraft' is a virtual home to over twelve million subscribers. 'The Raid' follows a group of nine gamers as they find adventure, challenge, and community inside Azeroth. Hear from them the reasons why they devote their time and resources into pursuing this complex, collaborative, and communal experience.
Despite its limited budget of $1.1M, The Raid became a massive hit, earning $9.1M worldwide—a remarkable 732% return. The film's unique voice attracted moviegoers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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 Raid (2012) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Gareth Evans's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Rama prays at home before dawn, kissing his pregnant wife goodbye. He's a young officer preparing for duty, devoted to family and his job, living a simple, peaceful life before the mission.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when A young lookout spots the SWAT team and sounds the alarm. Tama is alerted to their presence, turning what should have been a surprise raid into a death trap. The mission is compromised immediately.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 shows the protagonist's commitment to The team is ambushed in a hallway, officers are killed, and they're forced to split up. Rama and others retreat into the walls and apartments. They cross from a tactical operation into pure survival—there's no extraction, only survival., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Rama discovers Lieutenant Wahyu, their commanding officer, is corrupt—he sent them on an unauthorized mission to eliminate Tama and cover up his own criminal connections. The system they trusted has betrayed them. False defeat: they're not just fighting criminals, but their own corrupt leadership., 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 (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sergeant Jaka, their leader and moral center, is executed by Mad Dog after a brutal fight. The "whiff of death" is literal—the man who spoke of brotherhood is killed, and the team's guiding force is gone., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: Rama and Bowo fight their way to Tama. Mad Dog confronts them in an epic hand-to-hand battle. Rama combines his martial arts skills with newfound ruthlessness born from survival. They defeat Mad Dog, kill Tama, and extract Wahyu as evidence of corruption., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Raid's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Raid against these established plot points, we can identify how Gareth Evans utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Raid within the documentary genre.
Gareth Evans's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Gareth Evans films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Raid represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Gareth Evans filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional documentary films include This Is England, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Ex Machina. For more Gareth Evans analyses, see The Raid 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Rama prays at home before dawn, kissing his pregnant wife goodbye. He's a young officer preparing for duty, devoted to family and his job, living a simple, peaceful life before the mission.
Theme
Sergeant Jaka briefs the team: "We go in together, we come out together." This establishes the theme of brotherhood and loyalty among the SWAT team, foreshadowing how that bond will be tested when the system betrays them.
Worldbuilding
The SWAT team assembles and travels to the apartment building in the slums. We learn the building is a fortress controlled by crime lord Tama, providing sanctuary to criminals. The team prepares for a dawn raid to capture him.
Disruption
A young lookout spots the SWAT team and sounds the alarm. Tama is alerted to their presence, turning what should have been a surprise raid into a death trap. The mission is compromised immediately.
Resistance
The team attempts to maintain control as they clear floors, encountering resistance. Tama broadcasts an offer: "Kill the officers, live rent-free." Jaka tries to lead them strategically, but they realize they're trapped—no radio, no backup.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The team is ambushed in a hallway, officers are killed, and they're forced to split up. Rama and others retreat into the walls and apartments. They cross from a tactical operation into pure survival—there's no extraction, only survival.
Mirror World
Rama encounters a family hiding in their apartment, including a father protecting his sick wife. This mirrors Rama's own family situation and reminds him what he's fighting for—protecting innocent lives, not just following orders.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—intense close-quarters combat and survival. Rama fights through waves of criminals using martial arts (pencak silat), navigating the building's dangers, trying to regroup with survivors while Tama's enforcers hunt them.
Midpoint
Rama discovers Lieutenant Wahyu, their commanding officer, is corrupt—he sent them on an unauthorized mission to eliminate Tama and cover up his own criminal connections. The system they trusted has betrayed them. False defeat: they're not just fighting criminals, but their own corrupt leadership.
Opposition
The situation deteriorates. Tama unleashes his top enforcers Mad Dog and Andi. The remaining officers are hunted floor by floor. Jaka is captured and killed by Mad Dog. The team is being picked apart, and escape seems impossible.
Collapse
Sergeant Jaka, their leader and moral center, is executed by Mad Dog after a brutal fight. The "whiff of death" is literal—the man who spoke of brotherhood is killed, and the team's guiding force is gone.
Crisis
Rama mourns Jaka briefly but realizes he must continue. He's alone, exhausted, and faces the darkest moment of doubt—can he survive this? Will he ever see his family again? He processes the loss and finds resolve.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Rama and Bowo fight their way to Tama. Mad Dog confronts them in an epic hand-to-hand battle. Rama combines his martial arts skills with newfound ruthlessness born from survival. They defeat Mad Dog, kill Tama, and extract Wahyu as evidence of corruption.
Transformation
Rama exits the building into daylight, bloodied but alive. His brother Andi stays behind, choosing the criminal world. Rama walks away alone—transformed from an idealistic rookie into a hardened survivor who has seen the system's corruption. He has survived but lost his innocence.