American Psycho (DVD, 2003)

Bret Easton Ellis' Novel 'American Psycho'; 1991, sliced critics right down the middle. Most condemned its profile of an affluent '80s Serial Killer mutilating women as a sick, misogynist diatribe; while others praised the book as a pitch-black send-up of the Immoral Era of junk bonds, Iran-Contra and Cocaine-Crazed materialism.
For years, controversy scared off attempts to bring it to screen; Male Directors for fear of being branded women-haters, while virtually every female was repulsed by the ultraviolent subject matter.
Not Mary Harron.
Along with Co-Screenwriter Guinevere Turner ('Go Fish'), they focus on the novel's darkly ironic social satire. The result is bloody perfect and indubiously brilliant.
'American Psycho' profiles Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a blue-blood yuppie whose Ivy League education and inherited wealth guarantee him a life of luxury. His job requires no actual work, a debutante fiancée (Reese Witherspoon) who requires little attention, a dutiful secretary (Chloe Sevigny 'Boys Don't Cry') who asks few questions, and a bank account that seems bottomless.
He bides his time schmoozing at upper-crust eateries, perfecting his canned tan, listening to his Walkman, and working out … occasionally to the sounds of women screaming in horror films.
See, even though his friends are all virtually identical, Patrick is different. He has a secret — he's actually a Serial Killer, more fond of carving up prostitutes than playing the odd game of racquetball. Though we're only partially clued into his murderous nature at first; catching glimpses into a closet packed with instruments of torture or witnessing his frustrations getting bloodstained sheets laundered — we discover he's a Maniac on par with Ted Bundy, luring unsuspecting "hardbodies" into a condo charnel house in between swanky brunches at the Four Seasons.
Turner and Harron's wickedly clever script doesn't show us the full horror of Bateman's macabre right away. Instead, they send up his obsession with the minutiae of upper-crust existence — clothing brands, real estate locations, restaurant reservations, and the typeface on business cards.
In fact, it's Bateman's status-conscious jealously that leads him to commit his most hilarious on-screen murder — when he chops up another young executive (Jared Leto) with a fire axe to the tunes of Huey Lewis and the News' "Hip to Be Square."
The cutlery-sharp play comes from its use of 1980s cultural cues, be it the scoring of a sadomasochistic ménage à trois to Phil Collins' "Sussudio"; to the screenplay's subtle use of Reagan-Era SNL catchphrases; Harron/Turner keep piling on irony as story takes a darker turn; Bateman muses on the meaning of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All," while mutilating a hooker with a chainsaw.
Physically perfect from a heavy-duty exercise regimen and extensive assortment of skin-care products, Bateman has such a warped soul that he's unable connect to anyone. With mannered schmoozing and frenzied psychosis, Bale makes this seesawing from luncheon to dungeon an infectuously watchable blend of madness.
Even when Bateman does blow his cover; quoting Ted Bundy in casual conversation or confessing guilt in ramblings; no one in his shallow cliques can be bothered to notice.
And that's the ultimate question arise - what's worse, the homicidal sociopath or the cynical society that doesn't care that he kills?
SEE THIS GEM !!!!

I am conflicted about to how to review this film. On the one hand the storyline is VERY unique- I can guarantee you havn't seen this done before. The themes that reoccur throughout the movie are definitely conversation worthy and it makes some very thought-provoking statements about society at large, materialism and consumption. HOWEVER, on the other hand, the film is VERY PERVERSELY SEXUALLY VIOLENT and the majority of the violence is against women. These are the same issues that divided the critics on this film and what caused all the controversy when it was first released. In some ways this movie reminds me of Natural Born Killers. In my opinion, any movie that is capable of evoking such strong emotions is PROBABLY worth watching once. That said, I would definitely recommend renting this one before buying it- you may not want to watch it again...

The plot revolves around a very wealthy, attractive and professional male who commits multiple murders in his spare time- female prostitutes are a favorite. The film takes place in the 80's and many reverences are made to the 80's subculture and political scene. Even though it should be OBVIOUS that something with this man is awry (the loud and bloody murders are committed in his APARTMENT/CONDO, he is laundering bloody sheets, he even confesses to a colleague) no one around him seems to care. It keeps you wondering if the murders are really taking place, or if it is all in the man's twisted mind. The way this plays out makes this movie feel like a cross between a horror film and a comedy/satire.

Bret Easton Ellis' masterpiece finds an eerie and accurate interpretation in the screen version of "American Psycho." Though some of the more violent and sickening parts of the book are left out, there is no shadow of doubt left as to what Patrick Bateman is capable of.

An incredible satire of 80s excess and boredom the film explores the dark places a person with too much can go to to find the next thrill.

Most critics of this film and the book have never seen it, understand it or may be afraid of seeing themselves in it.

The key question will always be, is this really Patrick or just his mind.

A classic in cinema and literature. One of those rare occasions when a novel based primarily in the main characters head is transferred to cinema effectively.

When the director said that she wanted to "save" the Bret Easton Ellis novel, she wasn't kidding. This was an instant classic, and one that I am easily able to watch many times a month. Add this to American Psycho 2, and you have one night of hillarious laughs! Awesome flick!

The movie was pretty good; not the best I've ever seen, but I liked how it was a satire of 1980s high society in New York City. The ending is very confusing, but after some research I found that Patrick Bateman does commit the murders, just as you think all along, so don't let the ending throw you. By the way I haven't given anything away, so don't get mad at me.