American Psycho

                       

The 2000 film, American Psycho is an adaptation of a novel of the same name written by Bret Easton Ellis. British actor, Christian Bale, stars at the lead character Patrick Batman. As with most film adaptations of a novel the movie will have some differences that fans of the book will notice. For viewers who have not read the book, American psycho will not effect their enjoyment.

The time period of the film takes place in the late 1980’s and is set in New York City. The film shows the character of Patrick Bateman as he lives his life as a Wall Street businessman. He lives an upper class lifestyle and is obsessed with making himself look “perfect”. He exercises daily and even goes to a tanning salon to look the part of a Wall Street businessman. He looks “perfect” except for the fact he secretly enjoys killing people.

The soundtrack for the film does a good job at portraying what Americans were listening to in the 1980’s perfectly. Popular artists such as Huey Lewis and the News and David Bowie were used to show life in New York in that time period.  The set designs and costumes of the actors in the film also do a good job of capturing the 1980’s. The suits all the businessmen wear show the viewer that this movie is set in the 1980’s

The acting from the main characters in the film is very top notch. Christian Bale does not disappoint portraying the psychopath Patrick Bateman. Bale devoted himself physically to the role by getting his teeth fixed, tanning at tanning booths and exercising, in real life, to look perfect just like how Patrick Batman is suppose to be. Other noteworthy acting in the film is to Willem Dafoe who portrays a private investigator who constantly bothers Patrick Bateman over one of Bateman’s missing friends. Dafoe does a good job acting as a suspicious investigator. Actor Jared Leto is fantastic portraying Bateman’s rival, Paul Allen and does so by acting like a stuck up “yuppie” businessman.

It is difficult to define American Psycho to a film genre. At points it could be called a “thriller” with its edge of your seat moments. To me American Psycho is a true horror film but with some comedy elements. The film contains graphic violence and sex, most involving Patrick Bateman. If the viewer is a fan of horror and slasher type film’s they will certainly like American Psycho because it satisfies those fans with it’s portrayal of a serial killer and what he does to his victims. The comedy in the film usually involves the audience laughing at the levels that Bateman goes to when creating the image of the Wall Street businessman that he is. A scene where Bateman grabs a coaster before his secretary puts her drinking glass on his coffee table was brief but very funny.


 The film is a must see for any Horror fan but it will also be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a movie which pushes the boundaries. The fact it is also a timepiece of the 1980’s might bring some viewers who remember the 1980’s to relive the fashion and look of that time period. The movie all around was very well made and presented well.