The Tower
On Christmas Eve at Tower Sky, an ultra-luxurious building complex, a White Christmas party is held to dazzle its equally high-end tenants and VIP guests. Dae-ho, the manager of the building and single father, is forced to cancel plans with his daughter Hana to work the event. His Christmas is saved when Yoon-hee, the food mall manager with a secret crush on Dae-ho, offers to babysit Hana during the party. Meanwhile, Young-ki the legendary fire chief of Yoido Station has finally promised his first holiday date night to his long suffering wife. The party is in full swing with the spectacular sight of two helicopters flying overhead just to spray snow on the partygoers and make everything perfect. When unthinkable disaster strikes, Dae-ho and Young-ki must summon all their strength and courage to save the lives of thousands but at what cost to themselves and their loved ones?
The film earned $36.5M 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 Tower (2012) reveals carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Kim Ji-hoon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Christmas Eve at the luxurious Sky Tower. The building manager Dae-ho oversees final preparations for the grand Christmas party while residents and workers go about their routines in this gleaming symbol of success.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when The helicopter stunt goes catastrophically wrong during the Christmas party. The aircraft crashes into the tower, igniting a massive fire that quickly spreads through the upper floors, trapping hundreds of partygoers.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Dae-ho makes the irreversible choice to enter the burning tower to rescue his daughter, despite warnings. The firefighters, led by Young-ki's captain, commit to an internal rescue operation. No turning back—they're going into the inferno., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat A false victory: a group of survivors reaches what they believe is safety on a lower floor, and a helicopter rescue seems possible. But the building's structural integrity is worse than anyone realized—a major collapse is imminent. The stakes raise catastrophically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 91 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The tower's upper section collapses catastrophically, killing many and separating survivors. A key character—possibly Young-ki's captain or a beloved civilian—dies heroically while saving others. Dae-ho faces the real possibility he won't save his daughter. All hope seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. New information: a possible escape route through the parking structure, or a final helicopter extraction point is identified. Dae-ho and Young-ki synthesize their knowledge of the building and newfound courage. They realize survival requires complete selflessness and trust. The final plan crystallizes., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Tower's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Tower against these established plot points, we can identify how Kim Ji-hoon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Tower within the action genre.
Kim Ji-hoon's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Kim Ji-hoon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Tower takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kim Ji-hoon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Kim Ji-hoon analyses, see Sinkhole.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Christmas Eve at the luxurious Sky Tower. The building manager Dae-ho oversees final preparations for the grand Christmas party while residents and workers go about their routines in this gleaming symbol of success.
Theme
A character remarks on the tower's beauty and safety systems, stating "We've built something that can withstand anything." The theme of hubris versus nature, and technological overconfidence versus human vulnerability is introduced.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the ensemble cast: Dae-ho trying to reconnect with his daughter; Young-ki the rookie firefighter; the building owner's obsession with spectacle; the helicopter show being planned; various residents preparing for Christmas. The tower's systems and the Christmas party setup are established.
Disruption
The helicopter stunt goes catastrophically wrong during the Christmas party. The aircraft crashes into the tower, igniting a massive fire that quickly spreads through the upper floors, trapping hundreds of partygoers.
Resistance
Initial chaos and attempts to understand the scope of the disaster. Dae-ho debates whether to go up to find his daughter or evacuate. The fire department arrives and assesses the situation. Characters struggle with whether to stay or flee as systems begin failing.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Dae-ho makes the irreversible choice to enter the burning tower to rescue his daughter, despite warnings. The firefighters, led by Young-ki's captain, commit to an internal rescue operation. No turning back—they're going into the inferno.
Mirror World
Dae-ho encounters other trapped souls—a young couple, a mother with children, elderly residents—who represent what he's fighting for. The relationship between rescuers and victims becomes the emotional core, embodying themes of sacrifice and community.
Premise
The disaster spectacle the audience came for: daring rescues, creative problem-solving, narrow escapes from collapsing floors, firefighters battling the blaze with limited resources, characters navigating the deteriorating building. Moments of heroism and human connection amid chaos.
Midpoint
A false victory: a group of survivors reaches what they believe is safety on a lower floor, and a helicopter rescue seems possible. But the building's structural integrity is worse than anyone realized—a major collapse is imminent. The stakes raise catastrophically.
Opposition
Everything gets harder: fire spreads faster, water pressure fails, floors collapse without warning, rescue equipment malfunctions. Characters' flaws surface under pressure. The building itself becomes an active antagonist, and time runs out as structural failure accelerates.
Collapse
The tower's upper section collapses catastrophically, killing many and separating survivors. A key character—possibly Young-ki's captain or a beloved civilian—dies heroically while saving others. Dae-ho faces the real possibility he won't save his daughter. All hope seems lost.
Crisis
Characters process devastating losses in the smoke and darkness. Dae-ho confronts his failures as a father. Young-ki questions if he's capable of saving anyone. Survivors huddle together, facing mortality. The darkest emotional moment before the final push.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
New information: a possible escape route through the parking structure, or a final helicopter extraction point is identified. Dae-ho and Young-ki synthesize their knowledge of the building and newfound courage. They realize survival requires complete selflessness and trust. The final plan crystallizes.
Synthesis
The finale: executing the desperate escape plan, final rescues amid collapsing infrastructure, characters sacrificing themselves for others, the building's final moments. Dae-ho reaches his daughter; Young-ki proves his heroism; the community of survivors works as one to escape the dying tower.
Transformation
Dawn breaks over the ruined tower. Survivors reunite with loved ones. Dae-ho embraces his daughter—no longer the distant workaholic but a father who risked everything. The image mirrors the opening's gleaming tower with its burned husk, showing human connection matters more than monuments to ambition.