Trespass
Kyle and Sarah Miller have it all: a huge gated house on the water, fancy cars, and the potential for romance in their relationship. He's just back from a business trip (he brokers diamonds) and their teen daughter Avery is sneaking out to a party, when four thugs in security uniforms and ski masks stage a home invasion. They want what's in the safe: cash and diamonds. Kyle stalls them, trying to negotiate for Sarah's freedom. Over the next few hours, the back stories of the four robbers (two brothers, a girlfriend, and the representative of a local drug kingpin) as well as the fault lines in Kyle and Sarah's marriage come into play. Is there room here for heroism?
The film financial setback against its respectable budget of $36.0M, earning $9.6M globally (-73% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the crime genre.
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%)
Trespass (2011) reveals deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Joel Schumacher's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Kyle Miller
Sarah Miller
Elias
Jonah
Avery Miller
Main Cast & Characters
Kyle Miller
Played by Nicolas Cage
A diamond dealer trying to protect his family from home invaders while hiding his own secrets about financial ruin.
Sarah Miller
Played by Nicole Kidman
Kyle's wife who must navigate between the invaders' demands and her husband's lies while protecting their daughter.
Elias
Played by Ben Mendelsohn
The volatile and unpredictable leader of the home invasion crew with a hidden agenda and connection to Sarah.
Jonah
Played by Cam Gigandet
The aggressive younger member of the crew who becomes increasingly violent and difficult to control.
Avery Miller
Played by Liana Liberato
The rebellious teenage daughter of Kyle and Sarah caught in the home invasion.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Miller family is introduced in their lavish gated mansion—Kyle works obsessively on business calls while Sarah and teenage daughter Avery exist in emotional isolation despite their material wealth.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Masked intruders posing as police officers force their way into the Miller home after Avery is returned by security. The home invasion begins as Elias and his crew take the family hostage.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Kyle makes the active choice to deceive the invaders about the safe's contents rather than simply comply, beginning a dangerous game of manipulation and lies that commits the family to a battle of wits for survival., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The full truth emerges: Kyle has been laundering money and the diamonds are evidence of his crimes. The stakes escalate dramatically as it becomes clear that neither the criminals nor Kyle can afford to let the truth come out—this is now about survival, not just money., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elias is killed in the escalating violence, and the situation seems hopeless. Kyle is beaten severely, Sarah appears to have no escape from Jonah's obsession, and Avery is trapped. The family faces what seems like certain death as the remaining criminals lose all control., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Sarah uses her understanding of Jonah's psychology—gained through their affair—to manipulate him, creating an opening. Kyle and Sarah share a look of renewed partnership, choosing to fight together rather than remain divided. Their marriage becomes their weapon., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Trespass's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Trespass against these established plot points, we can identify how Joel Schumacher utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Trespass within the crime genre.
Joel Schumacher's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Joel Schumacher films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Trespass represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joel Schumacher filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Rustom and The Whole Ten Yards. For more Joel Schumacher analyses, see Batman Forever, The Phantom of the Opera and St. Elmo's Fire.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Miller family is introduced in their lavish gated mansion—Kyle works obsessively on business calls while Sarah and teenage daughter Avery exist in emotional isolation despite their material wealth.
Theme
Sarah remarks to Kyle about how they've built walls around themselves, suggesting that their security measures mirror the emotional barriers in their marriage—true safety requires connection, not isolation.
Worldbuilding
The family dynamics are established: Kyle is a workaholic diamond broker, Sarah feels neglected and disconnected, and Avery rebels by sneaking out to a party. Their high-tech security system is showcased, establishing the fortress-like nature of their home.
Disruption
Masked intruders posing as police officers force their way into the Miller home after Avery is returned by security. The home invasion begins as Elias and his crew take the family hostage.
Resistance
The invaders demand Kyle open his safe containing diamonds. Kyle stalls and negotiates, trying to understand what the criminals want. The volatile dynamics between the invaders—particularly the unstable Jonah—become apparent as Kyle debates whether to comply or resist.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kyle makes the active choice to deceive the invaders about the safe's contents rather than simply comply, beginning a dangerous game of manipulation and lies that commits the family to a battle of wits for survival.
Mirror World
The shocking revelation that Jonah and Sarah have been having an affair emerges, introducing a twisted romantic subplot that mirrors and inverts the broken marriage. Jonah's obsessive "love" for Sarah becomes a thematic counterpoint to Kyle's emotional neglect.
Premise
A cat-and-mouse game unfolds as Kyle manipulates the invaders with half-truths about his finances while the criminals turn on each other. Secrets are revealed, including Kyle's shady business dealings and Sarah's infidelity, as each party tries to gain advantage in the standoff.
Midpoint
The full truth emerges: Kyle has been laundering money and the diamonds are evidence of his crimes. The stakes escalate dramatically as it becomes clear that neither the criminals nor Kyle can afford to let the truth come out—this is now about survival, not just money.
Opposition
The situation deteriorates rapidly. Violence erupts among the invaders as paranoia and greed take hold. Jonah becomes increasingly unhinged in his obsession with Sarah. Kyle and Sarah must work together despite their broken trust while Avery remains in danger.
Collapse
Elias is killed in the escalating violence, and the situation seems hopeless. Kyle is beaten severely, Sarah appears to have no escape from Jonah's obsession, and Avery is trapped. The family faces what seems like certain death as the remaining criminals lose all control.
Crisis
In the aftermath of Elias's death, the family experiences their darkest moment. Sarah must confront the consequences of her affair as Jonah's possessiveness turns deadly. Kyle, bloodied and beaten, must find the will to fight for a family he'd neglected.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sarah uses her understanding of Jonah's psychology—gained through their affair—to manipulate him, creating an opening. Kyle and Sarah share a look of renewed partnership, choosing to fight together rather than remain divided. Their marriage becomes their weapon.
Synthesis
The Millers fight back in a violent climax. Sarah turns Jonah's obsession against him while Kyle overcomes the remaining threats. The family works together to survive, using the very security systems and knowledge of their home that once isolated them.
Transformation
The ordeal ends with the family emerging from their fortress into the dawn. Kyle embraces both Sarah and Avery—no longer the distant workaholic. The walls of their mansion, once symbols of isolation, gave way to genuine human connection forged through crisis.