thriller film opening title sequence textual analysis ‘american psycho’
TRANSCRIPT
LOCATION Apartment
Set in a normal location, IE an apartment. Using normal and everyday settings in a thriller is common, the idea of something ‘extraordinary’ happening in an ordinary situation is to scare the audience into believing it is possible to happen to them.It represents his wealth and
suggests that perhaps he is well educated
LIGHTINGThe lighting is neutral
It suggests he lives in a calm environment which contrasts with his potentially dangerous personality.
COSTUME
He is naked/wearing underwear
Shows that he is superficial and cares about himself very much.
PROPS
He uses everyday objects like face wash and aftershave.
It shows us he is careful to maintain his youthful appearance.
BODY LANGUAGE
His body language is very self-assured, he seems like he is extremely confident in himself.
He is a confident character who is charismatic but seems to have a narcissist side.
CAMERA SHOTS
Introduces the setting of his apartment and shows a little more of his personal life.
Long shots of Bateman walking around his apartment
Close up of his face
He looks sinister as the camera comes close up, suggesting he has a darker side.
PACE
The pace is slow to introduce different elements of the character’s life to the viewers.
SOUND
Voiceover
He does the voiceover, almost like an internal monologue. He tells us about his daily routine, it implies he is a normal young man with normal tendencies
“There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman, some kind of abstraction but there is no real me.”
Suggests that there are two sides to him, as if he is fake in a way.