The Rules of Attraction is a fantastic film, but it is not an easy film. Many people will be put off by the films lurid subject matter, many by the films lack of any sympathetic characters. But, if you can look past these issues you will find a blackly comic, teen drama that is right up there with the likes of ‘Trainspotting’, ‘Go’ and ‘Requiem for a Dream’.

Much like Ellis’ other creation Patrick Bateman (whom is main character, Sean’s brother), the characters in Attraction are all image conscious, self absorbed and completely lacking in anything resembling moral fibre. But, they all seek that which they do not have, a connection. They all want to love something, to such a degree that they latch onto the slightest hint of a connection and pursue it till they have ruined any chance that the relationship may have had at working.

They are all good looking people with a lot of money, but inside they are ugly and lonely. They have superficial friends and have meaningless sex with people they hardly know in a vain effort to find that elusive connection. They take mountains of drugs and drink gallons of alcohol, again trying to feel something, but ultimately feeling nothing. There isn’t much in the way of a story here, but rather the film is a study of teenagers seeking the basest of emotions, but going about in all wrong.

James Van Der Beek is amazing in this film; his Sean Bateman is a cold ruthless sex machine. He refers to himself as a vampire, prowling the campus looking for his next victim. But, he doesn’t want to be a vampire, he wants to love. Someone has been sending him anonymous love letters and he is convinced it’s Lauren, so he pursues her relentlessly. Van Der Beek has grown into a legitimate movie actor with this film. He buries all memories of Dawson’s Creek as the cold scowl of Bateman takes over. You can parallel his transformation here with Christian Bale’s as his brother Patrick in ‘American Psycho’, its total immersion in the role, excellent work.

Equally as good is Shannyn Sossamon as part two of the lead threesome, Lauren. Cute as hell, with a sultry skater look, it’s little wonder that Sean falls immediately for her. Lauren however is holding out for Victor, who is on a backpacking trip in Europe (more on this later). Sossamon is brilliant here and really works well with Van Der Beek in their few scenes together. The third part of the lead love triangle is made up by Ian Somerhalder as bisexual Paul, whom previously went out with Lauren. Somerhalder plays him camp, but not overly so. Paul is also looking for that elusive connection and thinks he has it in Sean, but Sean is too busy chasing Lauren to realise his true intentions.

Your three main leads are more than ably supported by the likes Fred Savage, Eric Stoltz (Who previously worked with Roger Avary on Killing Zoe), Kip Pardue and the frankly ridiculously good looking Jessica Biel. Stand out of the support though is Clifton Collins Jr. as the funniest sub-plot drug dealer since Alfred Molino in ‘Boogie Nights’. Whilst it is not a particularly well known cast they all work brilliantly and there is not a weak performance to be found in the whole film.

Director Roger Avary has been quiet since he made Killing Zoe, but he is back with a bang here. His visual style in this movie is off the chart. The film is a complete assault on the senses with an obscene amount of split screen, time lapse and reverse motion. The film also starts at the end and then zooms back six months to trace the events that lead up to the finale. All this may sound overly gimmicky, but it works in the context of the movie. The reverse motion is used at the start of the film to rewind and playback the final party from the point of view of all three main characters.

This is the first of four stand-out visual moments in the film. The second being a tour de force split screen shot that follows Sean on one side and Lauren on the other. For three minutes we track them walking to class until they meet in a corridor. The camera swings round at both sides of the screen and two shots seamlessly become one, amazing. I mentioned the tour of Europe earlier, but what I didn’t mention is that the whole trip is condensed into a few minutes with a non stop commentary by Victor. It’s hard to explain, but it’s immensely funny and brilliantly executed. The final scene is more low key, but none the less excellent, a snowflake falls from the sky and lands on Sean’s cheek, it melts and trickles like a tear, a simply beautiful moment.

Avary has clearly learned something from his good friend Quentin Tarantino as the soundtrack to the film is a work of genius. Every song in the film perfectly reflects what is happening on screen and serves to enhance what we are seeing, just as a soundtrack should. Music from the eclectic likes of P.I.L, Erasure and George Michael is used brilliantly, throughout the film.

The Rules of Attraction has become on of my very favourite films from 2002. Sure, there isn’t much of a story, but when you have the amazingly realised characters, brilliant direction, biting and satirical writing and complex and intriguing relationships that this film offers it doesn’t seem like a big deal. I would say that since the film has so much sex, drugs and the occasional burst of violence that if you are easily offended by these things that you should stay away. If however you like blackly comedic movies with all the things mentioned above then you simply have to see The Rules of Attraction.