The novel itself caused scandals and outrage, so how could this disturbing story be brought to the screen? Mary Harron succeeded in making a horror film with the film adaptation American Psycho with surprising humorwhich still shocks audiences years later. In it, Christian Bale plays the serial killer Patrick Bateman in a legendary performance. Also in the cast: Jared Leto.
The film has recently been added to Netflix’s offering with a Moviepilot community rating of very good 7.6 points.
The horror film is based on a cult novel
American Psycho is based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Elliswhich sparked controversy when it was released and developed cult status. The story is set in New York in the 1980s. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) has everything his heart desires: he is a successful broker, owns an apartment in the right building, enough designer clothes and, in addition to a presentable fiancée (Reese Witherspoon), also a lover.
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Christian Bale in American Psycho
No one suspects that Bateman is a killer who initially controls people, but then murders and mutilates them more and more indiscriminately. When the disappearance of one of his colleagues brings investigator Donald Kimball (Willem Dafoe) into the picture, Bateman finds himself increasingly cornered.
Why American Psycho is worth watching on Netflix
In his book, author Bret Easton Ellis uses strong Criticism of dull hedonism and the Wall Street greed of the 80s in America. Page-long descriptions of branded products and expensive clothing alternate with unbelievably brutal descriptions of the most repulsive violent crimes.
The American Psycho adaptation does not come close to the explicit cruelty of the original. Mary Harron preferred to make her film a very black comedy which nevertheless skillfully captures the essence of the novel.
Above all, Christian Bale, in his first major role, plays Patrick Bateman wonderfully as a slick charmer with a dream body. The voice-overs allow us to delve into the sick head of the empty main character, while it never becomes clear whether Bateman’s bloody deeds are perhaps just a figment of his imagination.
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This makes American Psycho a great mix of brutal psychological thriller, entertaining grotesque and sharp social criticism – packaged in elegant images and accompanied by chart hits of the time, about which Patrick Bateman could hold monologues for hours.
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