Paul Allen is the ill-fated colleague of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, the 2000 film based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel, and his panicked reaction has become a shorthand for dread in online edits. Short reaction clips from the film circulate widely on meme pages and short-form video, where a single scream can replace a whole explanation. Because the sound is only about a second and a half long, it drops neatly into edits without breaking pacing, and its recognisable film origin keeps it popular with viewers who know the scene.