When people talk about the movie, American Psycho, they seem to all want to focus on the ending. But what if I told you I thought the most interesting scene in the film actually happens in Act One?
I’m talking about the business card scene.
Today, I want to dig into that scene and look at how it sets the tone of the story and lays all the themes in the movie out for you to look at.
Let’s dive in.
What Is ‘American Psycho’ About?
American Psycho is a movie directed by Mary Harron, based on the book by Bret Easton Ellis.
It’s a horror and dark comedy that dissects the materialistic world of 1980s Wall Street through the eyes of its protagonist, Patrick Bateman, who is a wealthy investment banker harboring a terrifying secret — he loves murder.
The story plunges into the depths of Bateman’s psyche, revealing a man consumed by consumerism, status, and the relentless pursuit of superficial perfection.
Plus a penchant for Huey Lewis and the News.
The ‘American Psycho’ Business Card Scene
The American Psycho business card scene is kind of the perfect example of how to communicate character relationships and themes to your audience.
It could totally have been a throw-away scene in a conference room, but instead, it’s imbued with the backbone of the story.
At the start of the scene, we have powerful men showing their prized asset, their business cards. This can be seen as a locker room, where guys are showing off their…well…you know.
We get a glimpse into their obsessive desire to be the best, and their focus on the minute details that may take them there.
This is a group of guys who rely on these material possessions to validate their sense of self-worth. And because they feel that way, they will always be in a constant battle with one another to prove what they have is the best.
The bickering over color and wording is really just a struggle for dominance.
Even something trivial, like a business card, will cause this back and forth.
Also baked into this is Patrick Bateman’s loss of sanity. He’s obsessing in a way that shows his mind is slipping from reality into fantasy.
That is a pillar of the movie and establishes the tone, which takes reality and bends it into something unique.
Summing It Up
At the end of the day, this is a satirical movie that needs to set up a lot of stuff early and uses the business card scene to drag the audience into the world and let them know what kind of morbid and dark laughs are coming for them.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
