American Psycho

     If ever there was a character study that you were going to watch, then this one has to be in high consideration because American Psycho not only presents one of the greatest characters ever written and portrayed in Patrick Bateman, but it also compliments him with an intricate story full of twists, psychology, dark humor, and some of the best monologues in film. The film actually starts off with one of the best monologues in film in Patrick Bateman’s morning routine. Right from the start you understand that this is not a normal guy. He is someone that is deeply detached from reality and is a complete and utter sociopath, and honestly, that is the type of thing that gets you invested if you are looking for a good horror/slasher film.

            Christian Bale does an absolutely phenomenal job portraying Bateman. It is either his best, or at the very least one of his best performances in his illustrious career. He fully commits to the role. His all-American accent, his facial expressions, his mannerisms, his tone, everything that he brings to the character is so methodical and so calculated. He gives this role everything and that is the main reason why it is remembered as a classic. Without Bale, I do not know that this movie enjoys the success that it does, because overall, the rest of the elements are fine, but they are taken to the next level because of him and his performance. For example, his rivalry that he has with Jared Leto’s character is amazing. And it is over something so trivial which is what makes it so hilarious. The degrees to which he goes to so that he can have his revenge over the most meaningless things give this film the dark humor that fans have come to appreciate.

            The torturous elements and the gory elements of the film are fine, as they are not too over the top. If you are of the feint of heart, I believe that you could get past this movie if you simply look away at the right times, but this film does not overdo it. The heart of the film does not lie in gore or cheap scares, rather in the uncomfortableness of watching the way Bateman talks about, views, and treats people. The true horror is in watching this individual do the things that he does and understand that this type of person exists. These horrors that you see on screen are true to reality and that is what ultimately brings the fear. Patrick Bateman acts like a normal, charming, charismatic guy in front of his friends and colleagues and at no point do they suspect that he is anything more. Patrick Bateman can be anyone we know.

            They way the film concludes is also amazing. If you are a fan of tightly knit endings and are not big on ambiguity, you would not enjoy this. This film has the type of ending that leaves you thinking long after the end credits have finished and you may even watch it again just to fully understand, but it is worth the ride. The film ends much in the same way that it begins, with another phenomenal Christian Bale monologue and one of the best ending lines in cinema history. American Psycho is one of my favorite films and deserves the cult status that it has. Official Rating: 4.5 Stars.

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