Aftermath Story Analysis: Plot Summary & Character Arcs
Deep dive into the narrative structure and emotional journey of Aftermath.
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2017, Aftermath is a Drama, Thriller film directed by Elliott Lester, written by Javier Gullón. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. It provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Arnold Schwarzenegger as Roman Melnyk.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A fatal plane crash changes the lives of Roman and Jake forever. Roman loses his wife and daughter in the accident, while Jake loses his mind—as he happens to be the air traffic controller who failed to avert the nightmare. Rage and revenge engulfs Roman and Jake finds himself swamped with guilt and regret. The screenplay takes time to develop Arnold Schwarzenegger's journey, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet Arnold Schwarzenegger as Roman Melnyk in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life. Elliott Lester builds this foundation carefully, and over its 94-minute runtime, the pacing proves deliberate.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings Arnold Schwarzenegger's arc to its natural conclusion. Elliott Lester's direction falls somewhat short of expectations, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.