American Psycho (2000)
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A wealthy New York City investment banker leads a double life as a serial killer while navigating the superficial world of 1980s high society.
The story
In 1987, New York City investment banker Patrick Bateman meticulously maintains a polished social façade while harboring violent impulses. He navigates a shallow circle of wealthy associates he secretly despises, all while engaged to Evelyn Williams. The story follows Bateman as he deals with the frustrations of his high-society lifestyle, including a growing obsession with the success of his peers. While he appears to be a successful professional, his internal life is consumed by a dark, violent reality that he hides from the public. The narrative explores the tension between his public persona and his private, violent urges as he navigates the consumerist culture of the 1980s.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1987 New York City, Patrick Bateman is a wealthy investment banker who hides a murderous identity behind a mask of high-fashion and social status. After becoming enraged by a colleague's superior business card, he begins a series of murders, including a homeless man and his colleague Paul Allen. He navigates a world of superficiality, engaging in various acts of violence against those he deems inferior or as targets of his obsession. He hires prostitutes, nearly kills a colleague in a restroom, and eventually kills his acquaintance Elizabeth. After breaking off his engagement, Bateman's mental state deteriorates, leading to a violent confrontation with the police where he kills several people. In the aftermath, he is confronted by his lawyer, who fails to recognize the gravity of his actions, leading Bateman to question if his crimes were real or a hallucination. The film concludes with him reflecting on his existence in a world of hollow consumerism.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States; Canada
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mary Harron
- Writers
- Mary Harron · screenplay; Guinevere Turner · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Christian Bale · Patrick Bateman; Willem Dafoe · Donald Kimball; Jared Leto · Paul Allen; Josh Lucas · Craig McDermott; Chloë Sevigny · Jean; Reese Witherspoon · Evelyn Williams; Samantha Mathis · Courtney Rawlinson; Matt Ross · Luis Carruthers; Justin Theroux · Timothy Bryce; Cara Seymour · Christie; Guinevere Turner · Elizabeth
- Genres
- horror; comedy; psychological horror; black comedy
- Themes
- consumerism
- Tone and mood
- satirical; dark
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; 1980s; satire
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel by Bret Easton Ellis
- Content notes
- violence; sexual content
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews, with praise for Bale's performance and the screenplay, and has since developed a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Production trivia
- The film has a significant presence in meme culture since the 2010s.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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