The Rules of Attraction (2002)
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Three students at a college in New Hampshire become entangled in a complex and volatile love triangle.
The story
Set at Camden College in New Hampshire, the film follows three students—Lauren, Paul, and Sean—who find themselves entangled in a complicated love triangle. Lauren is a virgin who has been saving herself for her boyfriend, while Paul is a bisexual student who is often misunderstood by those around him. Sean is a drug dealer who finds himself caught in the middle of their conflicting desires and perceptions. As the school year progresses, the three characters navigate a web of secrets, substance use, and shifting romantic dynamics, all while struggling with their own identities and the consequences of their actions in a hedonistic collegiate environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins with Lauren, Paul, and Sean providing internal monologues at Camden College. A flashback reveals their intertwined lives: Paul is a bisexual student who is rejected by a jock; Sean is a drug dealer who receives mysterious purple love letters; and Lauren is a virgin who is secretly attracted to Sean. A series of events leads to a tragic misunderstanding when a girl who wrote the letters to Sean commits suicide, leading Sean to believe Lauren is the author. This leads to a cycle of failed attempts to connect, including Sean faking his death and Lauren's desperate search for connection. The narrative culminates at an 'End of the World' party where the characters' paths cross one last time. Sean eventually realizes he cannot be with Lauren and destroys the letters, while Paul and Lauren find a moment of shared reflection as they watch Sean depart on his motorcycle.
- First release year
- 2002
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Roger Avary
- Writers
- Roger Avary · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- James Van Der Beek · Sean Bateman; Shannyn Sossamon · Lauren Hynde; Ian Somerhalder · Paul Denton; Jessica Biel · Lara Holleran; Kate Bosworth · Kelly; Kip Pardue · Victor Johnson; Clifton Collins, Jr. · Rupert Guest; Thomas Ian Nicholas · Mitchell Allen
- Genres
- dark comedy; comedy-drama
- Themes
- identity; desire; alienation
- Tone and mood
- dark; frenetic
- Premise and plot tags
- college life; love triangle; drug use
- Source material / true-story basis
- Bret Easton Ellis' 1987 novel
- Content notes
- sexual content; drug use
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but has since been considered a cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 50 · scale: 100 · review count: 30
- Awards and nominations
- GLAAD Media Awards · Best Film—Wide Release · nominated
- Production trivia
- One of the first studio motion pictures to be edited using Final Cut Pro.; The film was shot at the University of Redlands in California.; The film's director, Roger Avary, became a spokesperson for FCP.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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