The Rules of Attraction (released in theaters on October 11, 2012) is a jagged, stylized adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ infamous novel. Directed by Roger Avary, the film is a deliberate antidote to the earnest teen comedies of its era, plunging headfirst into a nihilistic vision of college life at a fictional East Coast university.
The film unravels over a single, hedonistic week at Camden College, viewed through the overlapping perspectives of a trio of interconnected students.
Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek) is a manipulative drug dealer and notorious womanizer perpetually seeking attention and money.
He is infatuated with Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon), a virginal art student who is herself desperately in love with her globetrotting ex-boyfriend, Paul Denton (Ian Somerhalder).
Adding to the twisted dynamic, Paul is Lauren’s bisexual ex-boyfriend and harbors an unrequited crush on Sean.
The narrative weaves through a series of parties, drug-fueled encounters, and ill-fated hookups, introducing a carousel of equally disaffected characters: Lauren’s roommate, Lara (Jessica Biel), who struggles with her own desires; Candice (Kate Bosworth), a suicidal ex-girlfriend of Sean; and Victor (Kip Pardue), Paul’s ambiguous love interest.
The film uses its unconventional structure—including split screens, rewinds, and alternate perspectives—to illustrate the characters’ self-absorption and their inability to form genuine connections.
As Sean schemes to win Lauren, Lauren pines for Paul, and Paul yearns for Sean, the film builds to a chaotic climax where a disastrous “End of the World” party exposes the hollowness beneath their attractive exteriors, culminating in a darkly ironic European trip that underscores their profound isolation.
Thomas Ian Nicholas, Faye Dunaway, Fred Savage, Eric Stoltz, Jay Baruchel, Swoosie Kurtz, Clifton Collins Jr., and Paul Williams round out the cast.
Casper Van Dien filmed scenes as Patrick Bateman that did not make the final cut.
The film is a bold, often unsettling, exploration of privileged ennui, sexual ambiguity, and emotional detachment, told with a kinetic, non-linear flair that mirrors its characters’ fragmented inner lives.
The Rules of Attraction originally received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, but director Avary made cuts to the film in order to achieve an R rating.
Shannyn Sossamon and Jessica Biel in The Rules of Attraction (Photo/Lionsgate)
Reception for The Rules of Attraction
The Rules of Attraction grossed $2.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing 12th at the box office.
The film would gross $11.8 million worldwide.
Legacy
The legacy of The Rules of Attraction is its cult status as a subversive, visually daring adaptation that captured the cynical spirit of its source material.
It is most remembered for Van Der Beek’s transformative performance, shattering his clean-cut Dawson’s Creek image with a portrayal of charming depravity that shocked audiences.
The film also provided early, memorable roles for its talented ensemble, cementing their status as up-and-coming stars.
The movie remains a polarizing film, appreciated by those who value its artistic ambition and its unflinching look at nihilism, while challenging for those who prefer more conventional narratives.
The Rules of Attraction stands as a definitive artifact of early 2000s independent cinema, praised for its stylistic daring and its enduring power to provoke, offering a haunting glimpse into a generation adrift in a sea of excess.
