They
After witnessing a horrific and traumatic event, Julia Lund, a graduate student in psychology, gradually comes to the realization that everything which scared her as a child could be real. And what's worse, it might be coming back to get her...
The film disappointed at the box office against its mid-range budget of $17.0M, earning $12.8M globally (-24% loss).
1 win & 1 nomination
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%)
They (2002) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Robert Harmon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Julia Lund is a successful psychology graduate student living a normal life with her boyfriend Paul, studying for her thesis and maintaining stable relationships.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Billy Parks commits suicide in front of Julia at the diner after showing her his self-inflicted wounds and ranting about creatures hunting him, disrupting Julia's rational worldview.. At 11% 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Julia experiences her first encounter with the creatures in her apartment - seeing shadowy figures and experiencing supernatural phenomena. She actively chooses to investigate rather than dismiss it as hallucination., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Sam is attacked and dragged into the pool drain by the creatures during a false victory moment when they thought they understood the rules. The stakes raise - this is deadly and inescapable. The creatures are actively hunting them., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Terry is killed by the creatures, dragged into their dimension. Julia witnesses it and realizes she is truly alone - all the other marked children are dead. Her support system has collapsed. The whiff of death is literal., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Julia realizes the creatures fear light and human connection. She must confront them directly rather than hide. She synthesizes her psychological training with the supernatural reality to make her final stand., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
They'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 They against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Harmon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish They within the horror genre.
Robert Harmon's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Robert Harmon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. They takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Harmon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Robert Harmon analyses, see Nowhere to Run, The Hitcher.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Julia Lund is a successful psychology graduate student living a normal life with her boyfriend Paul, studying for her thesis and maintaining stable relationships.
Theme
Billy Parks at the diner tells Julia: "They marked us when we were children... what you see in the dark isn't always imaginary." Theme of childhood fears manifesting as adult reality.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Julia's academic life, her relationship with Paul, her friends Sam and Terry. Flashbacks reveal Julia's childhood night terrors. Billy's disturbed warnings about "them" establish the mythology of creatures from another dimension.
Disruption
Billy Parks commits suicide in front of Julia at the diner after showing her his self-inflicted wounds and ranting about creatures hunting him, disrupting Julia's rational worldview.
Resistance
Julia debates whether Billy's fears were real or psychological. She researches night terrors, consults with her professor, and tries to rationalize the event. She reconnects with other childhood night terror sufferers Sam and Terry who knew Billy.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Julia experiences her first encounter with the creatures in her apartment - seeing shadowy figures and experiencing supernatural phenomena. She actively chooses to investigate rather than dismiss it as hallucination.
Mirror World
Sam and Terry become Julia's thematic mirrors - fellow "marked" individuals who represent different responses to the terror: Sam is analytical, Terry is protective. Their shared trauma bonds them.
Premise
The trio investigates the nature of "them" - creatures that exist in darkness and prey on those marked as children. Escalating supernatural encounters occur: moving through shadows, attacks in dark spaces, manipulating reality. The horror premise delivers on creatures from another dimension.
Midpoint
Sam is attacked and dragged into the pool drain by the creatures during a false victory moment when they thought they understood the rules. The stakes raise - this is deadly and inescapable. The creatures are actively hunting them.
Opposition
The creatures intensify their attacks. Julia and Terry become increasingly isolated as no one believes them. Paul thinks Julia is having a breakdown. Terry is hunted in his apartment. The rational world offers no help, and the creatures are closing in from all sides.
Collapse
Terry is killed by the creatures, dragged into their dimension. Julia witnesses it and realizes she is truly alone - all the other marked children are dead. Her support system has collapsed. The whiff of death is literal.
Crisis
Julia experiences dark night of the soul - isolated, disbelieved by Paul and authorities, knowing she's next to be taken. She processes that her childhood fears were always real and there is no rational escape.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Julia realizes the creatures fear light and human connection. She must confront them directly rather than hide. She synthesizes her psychological training with the supernatural reality to make her final stand.
Synthesis
Julia barricades herself with lights and attempts to fight back against the creatures. The finale involves a desperate struggle as the creatures breach her defenses. She is ultimately pulled into the dark dimension where the creatures exist.
Transformation
Julia is trapped in the creature's dark dimension, transformed from a rational psychology student into a victim of the very fears she studied. The childhood terror wins. Dark ending mirrors the opening - what was imagined becomes eternally real.