My name is Salik Waquas, and I am a filmmaker and professional colorist. I own a post-production color grading suite where I work on refining visuals to tell stories that leave lasting impressions. As a colorist and someone deeply passionate about cinema, I find myself constantly drawn to the craft of storytelling through visuals. One film that has always intrigued me is American Psycho directed by Mary Harron. The movie’s cinematography, executed with meticulous care, enhances its satirical and psychological depth. In this article, I’ll share my analysis of the film’s visual storytelling, breaking down its various elements while reflecting on what makes it a cinematic masterpiece.
Cinematography Analysis Of American Psycho
About the Cinematographer
American Psycho owes much of its visual impact to Andrzej Sekuła, a Polish cinematographer celebrated for his work on Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Sekuła’s expertise in creating tension through visuals makes him an exceptional choice for this film. His approach combines stylized imagery with subtle narrative cues, weaving a visual language that mirrors the complexity of Patrick Bateman’s character. What stands out most to me as a colorist is how Sekuła’s choices in lighting, composition, and camera work evoke the material excess and emotional barrenness of the 1980s.
Inspiration for the Cinematography of American Psycho
The visual style of American Psycho is heavily influenced by the aesthetics of 1980s New York. The decade, marked by its obsession with wealth and status, is reflected in every frame of the film. Sekuła and director Mary Harron deliberately infused the cinematography with sleek, minimalist visuals that juxtapose Bateman’s glossy public persona with his chaotic inner life.
The production design—spare, symmetrical, and sterile—captures the corporate culture and materialistic values of the era. Power ties, designer suits, and luxury props dominate the mise-en-scène, serving as both status symbols and reflections of Bateman’s superficial identity. As a filmmaker, I find this meticulous attention to detail fascinating; it reinforces the narrative while visually anchoring the film in its period setting.
Camera Movements Used in American Psycho
The film employs controlled and deliberate camera movements, mirroring Patrick Bateman’s compulsive need for order. Static shots, slow pans, and calculated tracking shots dominate the visual style, creating a sense of calm detachment that aligns with Bateman’s outward demeanor. One scene that always catches my attention as a colorist is the infamous business card scene. The camera lingers on the cards, highlighting their subtle differences in texture and font, underscoring Bateman’s fragile ego and obsession with appearances.
However, the restraint in camera movement gives way during moments of violence. For example, in the chaotic chainsaw scene, the camera adopts erratic movements, creating a visual contrast that mirrors Bateman’s psychological collapse. This juxtaposition of control and chaos is a masterstroke in visual storytelling, making the viewer experience Bateman’s fractured reality.
Compositions in American Psycho
One of the defining features of American Psycho’s cinematography is its symmetrical and sterile compositions. Every frame is meticulously structured, whether it’s the arrangement of objects in Bateman’s pristine apartment or the positioning of characters in a boardroom. This precision reflects Bateman’s obsession with perfection and control, while also reinforcing the soullessness of his world.
The business card scene stands out again as a visual metaphor. The tight framing of the cards magnifies their trivial differences, emphasizing Bateman’s misplaced priorities and fragile self-worth. Reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and windows, are another compositional motif. They frequently frame Bateman, visually underscoring his duality—his polished exterior concealing a monstrous interior.
Lighting Style of American Psycho
Lighting plays a pivotal role in shaping the film’s tone. Much of American Psycho is lit in a flat, high-key style, mirroring the artificiality of Bateman’s world. His apartment, for instance, is illuminated with bright, even lighting, emphasizing its lifeless, showroom-like quality. This clinical lighting style perfectly captures the coldness and emotional sterility of Bateman’s character.
As Bateman’s psyche unravels, the lighting evolves. Scenes of violence often feature dramatic contrasts and deeper shadows, reflecting his descent into madness. This dynamic use of lighting creates a subtle but effective visual tension, oscillating between the satirical and the horrific. For me as a colorist, these transitions are a reminder of how lighting can convey psychological nuance, adding layers of complexity to a narrative.
Lensing and Blocking of American Psycho
The choice of lenses and blocking in American Psycho plays a crucial role in visual storytelling. Sekuła often employs wide-angle lenses to exaggerate the spaciousness of Bateman’s environment, making him appear insignificant despite his grandiose self-perception. This lensing choice visually reinforces Bateman’s existential loneliness and his interchangeable role in the corporate machine.
Blocking, too, is deliberate and thematic. Bateman is often isolated within the frame, even when surrounded by others. In office scenes, he is framed separately from his colleagues, emphasizing his emotional detachment. During violent sequences, the blocking becomes more chaotic, placing Bateman at the center of the frame as his primal instincts take over. This shift highlights the fragile veneer of control that defines his character.
Color Palette of American Psycho
Color is another key element that enhances the film’s thematic depth. The palette is dominated by muted tones—beige, grey, and off-white—reflecting the bland uniformity of Bateman’s world. These subdued colors create a visual monotony that mirrors the lifelessness of his existence. Yet, bursts of red punctuate the palette, symbolizing the violence and chaos lurking beneath his controlled facade.
Bateman’s sterile apartment, with its cold whites and greys, reflects his obsession with perfection and order. In contrast, the nightclubs he frequents are awash with neon colors, representing the hedonistic and chaotic aspects of his double life. This stark dichotomy between muted and vibrant colors underscores the duality of Bateman’s persona. As a colorist, I admire how these choices create a visual rhythm that mirrors the film’s narrative beats.
Final Thoughts
As a filmmaker and colorist, I view American Psycho as a masterclass in visual storytelling. Andrzej Sekuła’s cinematography elevates the film, making it as much a psychological character study as it is a satire of materialism and greed. From its meticulously composed frames to its dynamic lighting and color choices, every element serves to deepen our understanding of Patrick Bateman’s fractured psyche.
For me, American Psycho is a testament to the power of cinematography in shaping narrative. It reminds us that visuals are not merely an accompaniment to storytelling but an integral part of it. As someone passionate about the craft, I find studying films like American Psycho an invaluable exercise in understanding how to harness visuals to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and tell stories that resonate long after the credits roll.