Thriller Analysis - American Psycho

Narrative Structure

The narrative structure to this piece begins with the entrance sequence of the movie, it begins with a white screen, the entrance sequence uses red drops falling down the screen, at first off, the movie makes you believe that this could be blood drops, it also shows a knife which would give sense of a killing but we end up being presented with an anticlimax, when the scene actually turns out to be a dinner being prepared, this also shows the narrative that this give a sophisticated atmosphere. 

During the movie we are introduced to the main character - Patrick Bateman, who introduces themselves through a voiceover during his daily routine, he also introduces other characters while they are all at a restaurant or in a group at work. We are also told that Patrick has a form or medical problem where hje has the feeling that his life is a dream so this could give us the sense that he could do anything he wanted but he has an excuse for his actions, also his apartment is in a busy area and high up so this gives him the freedom that he could do anything and no-one would hear it, through this, this gives this a sense that he could be the antagonist of this movie.

Thriller Codes and Conventions
American Psycho follows the rules of the thriller genre as the main character tells us that he suffers from a medical condition which gives he an excuse to do whatever he wants, included killing people. The movie also follows the thriller codes and conventions and throughout the movie it will always use lonely areas for victims of killings and in thriller this is used to give the sense that the victim has no one to help them and no one would hear them.

The movie follows thriller codes as the movie uses your average urban areas and dark rundown settings. The movie also uses symboling for example white signalling innocence and black symboling somthing sinister, this is shown when Patrick has his whole apartment in white which would symbolise that really, Patrick is in a way an innocent victim but this is contratsted by the acts he does, this shows us that we can believe that what the main character says earlier we can believe that he feels that his life is a dream because through these clours of his apartment, it shows really he wouldnt act like the way he does in the movie.

Camerawork
The camerawork of the movie uses shots on each character when each of them are talking, it also shows the characters apartment showing how rich the character is and how sophisticated the character is by showing his daily routine at the beginning of the movie. The camerawork focuses on the main characters more than the other characters because when the main character - Patrick speak, its would focus on their faces but mainly focus on him while he talks.


Mise-En-Scene
The movie shows the setting that the movie is based around a sophisticated area as it uses scenes in a fancy, rich restaurant, this is backed up with at the start of the movie the entrance sequence shows a rich meal being prepared. The movie is based around rich setting as all the characters are wearing suits and the movie uses rich areas for sets such as offices and sold out restaurants.


Sound
The sound of the movie begins with a dischordent sound, it uses violins but not in a particular tune which would make the watcher feel uncomfortable with the jarring strings while red drops fall down the screen during the opening sequence, the movie then switches to the use of violins again but in a calm and sophisticated manner which completely contrast what was used at the start if the opening sequence, this is uses as it makes the watcher feel one way but drives them to something nothing like what they think because it turns out to be just a meal being prepared a rich venue. The music in Patricks apartment is calm music also which contrast what he actually does during the movie. Also contrapuntal sound is used which would give the audience a sense of confusion becuase during a scene, Patrick puts on music in his apartment but the music does not fit in to the scene as he ends up killing someone while he has cheerful and catchy music playing in the background.


Editing
Editing in the movie uses a lot of cutting between day and night as in one scene it will show people at work, then it will immedietly change to a night out in a club.


Graphics
The graphics used during the movie follow the thrillers codes as it uses dark settings and urban areas, it uses the typical dark colours in setting such as grey, black which would show sinister or evil setting but it uses white colour for Patricks house which gives a sense of innocence in his character of his actual self.