- Starring
- Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas
- Director
- Mary Harron
- Rating
- R
- Genre
- Drama, Thriller
- Release date
- April 14, 2000
- Where to watch
- HBO Max
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Rating Summary
A satirical commentary on the excesses of the 1980s and the emptiness of the yuppie lifestyle, American Psycho is a film that is sure to spark discussion and debate among moviegoers. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the film tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and successful businessman who also happens to be a sadistic serial killer.
American Psycho
The film is anchored by a powerful performance by Christian Bale, who completely disappears into the role of Bateman. He perfectly captures the character’s chilling detachment and his descent into madness. Bale’s performance is matched by the film’s stylish direction and cinematography, which effectively creates a sense of unease and dread. The film’s screenplay and direction is very well crafted and the film’s score is also noteworthy, it adds a sense of unease throughout the film which makes the film even more terrifying.
The film’s satirical elements are also well executed, highlighting the superficiality and materialism of the yuppie lifestyle. However, some of the violence in the film is graphic and disturbing and may be off-putting to some viewers. The film is not for the faint of heart, it is a horror movie, but it is not in the typical sense of the genre, it is more psychological horror.
The film’s commentary on the emptiness of the yuppie lifestyle is also well done. The film is a reflection of a time and a culture that was obsessed with materialism and superficiality. The characters are all shallow, narcissistic, and empty, and the film’s commentary on this is spot on.
However, some viewers may be put off by the graphic violence in the film. The film is not for the faint of heart and it is not a film for everyone. It is a film that is meant to shock and disturb and it does that very well.
In conclusion, American Psycho is a powerful and disturbing film that is sure to spark discussion and debate. It is not for everyone, but for those with a strong stomach and an appreciation for transgressive cinema, it is a must-see. While it may be hard to watch for some, the film’s commentary on the superficiality and materialism of the yuppie lifestyle is something that needs to be seen, and the film’s screenplay and direction are well crafted, which makes the horror more impactful.
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James Carrick
James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.
There are several scenes from the book not included in the movie:
-He cuts off a girls head and gets oral.
-He crucifies several women, attaches car batteries to their nipples and dismembers them.
-He attaches a tube to a woman’s genitals leading a starved rat to chew its’ way out.
-He holds a lighter up to a homeless man’s eye until it bursts.
Omitting this incredibly violent and incredibly exploitive imagery significantly alters the entire point of the book; a cautionary tale about the moral corruption of a capitalist society. Although not excessive virtue-signaling as required for “woke” it is indeed itself a form of whitewashing purposefully intended to protect the moral sensibilities of the viewing audience.
(notice I said “excessive” virtue-signaling. Virtue-signaling doesn’t automatically equate with “woke” when it’s part of the story, for instance movies about Global Warming like “The Day After Tomorrow” or “Don’t Look Up” aren’t automatically “woke”)
Reducing the level of graphic violence simply to avoid an X-rating to get a wider audience and presumably more profit is a transgression of the very message of the book itself. An inverted virtue-signaling conundrum.
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