The Symbiotic Relationship Between the Murderer and the City, a Silent Accomplice in Crime, in The Love Witch and American Psycho
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to examine the interdependence between the killer and the urban space in The Love Witch and American Psycho, as well as to explore the subversion of gender roles in horror productions through satirization of toxic masculinity and fragile femininity. Furthermore, the paper examines the murderer’s persona, along with motifs and psychological factors motivate criminal behaviour, and also investigates the importance of the urban space as it conditions the perpetrators’ behaviour and reflects their personalities. An in-depth study of such a phenomenon is conducted by employing the comparative analysis of two similar yet different serial killers from the aforementioned films, as well as implementing spatial theories and delving into the connection between fictional characters and their surroundings. Ultimately, the partnership in crime linking the killer and the horror settings is proven to exist and benefit both parties.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/nh.2025.0.174-192
Date of publication: 2025-12-31 08:45:40
Date of submission: 2025-04-27 17:57:40
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