American Psycho Title Sequence Analysis

Week 3: Homework

American Psycho

The sequence begins with a plain white screen and black text appears in capital letters, informing us of the production company.  It does not begin with a scene from the film like many title sequences usually do.  This does not give much away and therefore creates suspense, fitting to the thriller genre of the film.

The text fades away and a red droplet falls in time with music.  You immediately assume the droplets are blood, connoting death and violence, relating to the plot.  The plain white background allows the audience to focus on the credits and droplets of blood as the colours contrast against each other.

As more important credits are shown, the pace of the music quickens and the drops keep in time with it, so more than one appear on the screen.  This faster pace builds tension for the audience, possibly hinting at a chaotic plot or character.

Two droplets then splatter onto the white background, and the title of the film appears in the same font, with the second word in bold.  This again hints at the plot and genre of the film.

The red droplets change to a constant red substance running, still resembling blood and adding to the tense atmosphere created by the faster music.  This then cuts to the substance being drawn over a white surface, seeming to go against the idea that it is blood.  However, the audience is still unsure what it is, therefore keeping the suspense.

A hand holding a large knife is lifted swiftly upwards on the screen as the name 'Christian Bale' appears, the star of the film.  This suggests he is the antagonist and murderer.  The knife is then slammed down to cut meat that looks like flesh, and a loud thud is heard which contrasts against the orchestral music and startles the audience.  Again, this feeds into the idea of the thriller genre and foreshadows the audience will experience more shocks.

 'Williem Dafoe' then appears, another well known actor and star of the film, keeping with the same font style.  What seemed like blood and flesh now changes to show food, such as raspberries, clearly.  This makes the audience backtrack and feel like they have let their imaginations go wild, linking to the ambiguous ending of the film.

The full plate of food is finally shown, with hands picking it up to be served.  It is very neat and professional looking, hinting at the character's personality, as we find out he has OCD.

A birds eye shot shows the food is placed down on a table and the camera pans at an angle to show another meal.  The audience views the meals upside down, creating disorientation.  

The table shots cut to mid-shots of people eating in a restaurant and a waiter serving food.  They are dressed in evening clothes and the waiter is wearing a white suit with a bow tie, showing they are wealthy and of high status.  This suggests the film focuses on characters of this social background.  The orchestral music continues yet changes to a happier tone.  This compares the room where the food was being prepared (the kitchen) and the main part of the restaurant where people are eating, giving the idea that there is a secret and a defined separation between the two.  This is because the kitchen shows emptiness and a cold feeling due to a lack of colour, besides the bright red droplets, and no people besides the hand holding the knife.  In comparison, the restaurant is full of people talking and bright colours, such as pink and green.

This changes to a birds eye view of a woman cutting into a dessert.  The contrasting colours of white and red reappear, connoting more blood and violence.  The woman is also wearing a black evening glove, a colour associated with death.

Characters of the film are finally shown by an over the shoulder shot, starting with the star Christian Bale and his friends/work colleagues having a conversation with banter.  The credits are still shown in the same font, yet as the most important names such as the production companies, director and stars have been shown, the audience are now more focused on the film rather than the credits.  This allows a fluent transition from the title sequence into the beginning of the film.

Overall, it is a very effective title sequence as it plays with the minds of the audience.  It constantly hints at the plot and character, yet does not make it too obvious, therefore allows you to make assumptions which you will have to watch to find out.  I also like the use of colour to connote the genre and timing parts of it with music, which I would be interested in trying with my title sequence.