Dedication started May 4th 2026! Inspiration: dumby @ Neocities
! SPOILER WARNINGS ! go back?
Synopsis
Inspired by the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis,
American Psycho is a black comedy, horror film that follows an investment banker named Patrick Bateman. Set in the 1980s. Over the course of the film, Bateman makes an effort to appear normal and more superior than his colleages. However, behind the scenes, he indulges in his homicidal urges, targetting the homeless and prostitutes. It is in the iconic business card scene where Patrick Bateman becomes irrationally enraged upon seeing how his coworker, Paul Allen had a better card AND owned a bank account that Bateman wanted. You know what happens. This is where his mask of sanity starts to slip, and Bateman struggles with whats real or not, his murderous thoughts, and navigating through his equally shallow, arrogant colleages and a detective honing in on his ass.
MAIN THEMES : critic on 'yuppie culture', capitalism, identity, reality based delusions, inner character.
"Mary Harron applied that [ yuppie ] concept but to America as a whole. As in, the country has lost inner morality and the capacity to empathize. Instead, it’s beginning to celebrate the superficiality of materialism, virtue signaling, conformity, keeping up appearances, and manipulation." - Film Colossus
YUNKO'S RATING : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
American Psycho Movie Poster JP | 日本語
Date Released : April 14th 2000 | Directed by Mary Harron
★ Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe, Reese Witherspoon
General Thoughts
American Psycho is in my Top 3 of Favorite Films
But in all honesty, the film isn't for everyone. When I first watched it, it felt really boring and I wasn't paying attention enough to understand it. Bateman is very blunt and the story sometimes switches between whether or not his fantasies were real committed acts, which can confuse first-time watchers. The way American Psycho is executed is extremely ambiguous, therefore, the movie's themes are all up to interpretation.
The Characters
I do think that the characters are charming. Many of Bateman's coworkers literally have the same personality, which I believe was done on purpose. A friend of mine watched it, and they told me that they coudln't differentiate the characters except for Bateman because they all looked the same. They have the same hairstyle and clothes, they are equally arrogant, they get upset because they can't get whichever luxury service or good for themselves, and worst of all, they're all just so dumb. The other characters are obviously protrayed that way because the movie is through Batemans eyes, and it really highlights the lack of depth they have. Everybody except him and Jean (who is in love with Bateman) who also has real character qualities, are instead depicted like "this is a rich guy who's a racist asshole."
In fact, in one scene where Bateman calls off his superficial engagement with Evelyn Williams, her only argument is that it wouldn't make sense because his friends are her friends. Isn't that ridiculous?
Their lack of character got so bad that his coworkers can't even tell each other apart. One of the main plotpoints in the movie is that Patrick Bateman did so well to camouflage himself that he is frequently mistakened as other people. Yes, he managed to fit in, but this backfires, in which people literally talks shit to his face by calling him a loser, as if he's NOT Bateman.
The Movie
Aside from the characters, American Psycho excells at using satire and having moments where someone says something funny and it's immediatelly skimmed over. You're left thinking "...lol what happened?" Like when Luis Carruthers tries to make a move on Bateman as he's actively trying to kill him. Or Bateman throwing a tantrum over having bad seats in a five star restaurant.
I don't really have anything meaningful to say because this movie has already been heavily analyzed and I don't want to sound like a larper. I just appreaciate that this movie doesn't have a very complex narrative, but still manages to make it engaging and thought-provoking. I enjoyed seeing the mental decline in Bateman's perspective and how the ending challenges the viewer as it finishes with Bateman staring off into the camera, with the sign in the back that said 'This is NOT Exit.'
Regarding the Bateman
I have a deep infatuation with Patrick Bateman. Christian Bale did an amazing job and no other actor would've fit the character. I enjoy hearing about the stupid shit he complains about. In a sense, I see Bateman as a guinea pig to poke sometimes. He's such an easy character to make fun of, and anyone who watches the movie with actual media literacy will laugh at the 2023 wave of Bateman Phonk Sigma edits. The only ones who make such edits are boys and insecure men who completely missed the point of the movie.
YOU DO NOT want to be Bateman. That's the point. He is the punching bag of the company. He is a LOSER and a fucking nerd. He's literally a looksmaxxer with no one to impress but himself.
Theories
I believe every death, except for Paul Allen, was real.
One of the lasting messages of the film was how no one really gave a shit and were so obsessed with how they present themselves, that any bad sign was completely disregarded. Do you remember how Bateman went on tangents about how he wants to put women heads on sticks, and no body even responded? His coworkers just looked at each other and talked about other shit. Even when Batemen repeatedly tested the waters by confessing horrible things, no body went out of their way to question him. He was so boring and empty. Like his attempts at talking to women were telling them to ask questions about himself.
So it's pretty fair that if he DID kill Paul, I still think it would've went under the rug. I just don't agree with the theory because, we could also say that Patrick became delusional, and the biggest indicator was the empty apartment space. Maybe he broke in and hallucinated that it was Paul Allen's, like how he hallucinated the ATM 'Feed me cat' machine.
Another scene to consider is that Bateman's lawyer literally said he had dinner with Paul. HOWEVER, perhaps this is his lawyer mistaking someone else for Paul, just like how Paul mistook Bateman for Marcus Halberstram. We don't really know, and I don't think there's a right or wrong answer.
I don't think him sparing Jean was his version of saying that he loved her. Jean is one of the movie's main characters, being his assistant or secretary. She is one of the few that actually talked to Bateman in a genuine matter. Jean loves Bateman, but imo Bateman didn't really care about her. I think sparing Jean was him acknowledging that she wasn't a blank slate, and let her go out of mercy. Not because he respected her humanity, but did so out of his narcissitic righteousness.
The only two times Bateman spared somebody were people who were in love with him. Luis bathroom scene....
I do think that in some way, Bateman sabotages the potential for a relationship because he doesn't believe he deserves it...but i hate him so i dont wanna sympathize with him lmao.
yes. lmao gay.
i watched a video on it and i thought it was very well brought. the author of the novel is queer and the story is about a man struggling with his grip in a world focused on externalities. do what you will with the info, right?
Fun Facts
Christian Bale was originally going to be replaced by Leonardo DiCaprio if not for Mary Harron.
When meeting with Bret Easton Ellis in an interview, Christian Bale arrived fully in-character.
Despite being set at a high end job, there was no scene of any characters working as Investment Bankers, except for Jean.
Willem Dafoe played three seperate takes when meeting with Bateman. Each represented the detective's stance on Bateman being the suspect, going from Unnassuming to Suspicious. The takes were edited to make it unclear how the detective felt.
Christian Bale's inspiration when playing Patrick Bateman was one of Tom Cruise's interviews.
Christian Bale and Mary Harron analyzed porn, in which Bale would draw stick figures having sex to find the perfect poses for that...scene.
The sign showing "This is NOT an exit" at the last scene, were the very last words of the novel.
The Beginnings... LoveQuest START ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
When I bought the game, I didn't plan on my Patrick Bateman mii falling in love. I literally had him as my first mii, and thought I might as well just make the cast of American Psycho (I still haven't finished). After that, I made Paul Allen after Mii Bateman complained about being lonely. Then, I made Luis! He was just here... He tripped a few times and became friends with Bateman through that.
But then, suddenly he caught feelings for Paul ? ! Σ(ﾟ口ﾟ;) This section shall document Bateman and Paul's journey to marriage. They're so fucking stupid son. I have grown to observe the Mii's relationship like how scientists observe their lab rats.
" TRY GETTING A RESERVATION AT DORSIA NOW, YOU FUCKING STUPID BASTARD! "
Gallery Log
Last updated : May 5th
this section shall be formatted like a photo gallery! anyway, bateman's lovequest begins where he accidentally bumps into paul.
cute cute.
bonding time with pierce & pierce : luis and paul!
lets fast forward for a bit. eventually, the two main miis had a fight because bateman got jealous over paul talking to another mii. i literally struggled, because despite moving paul away from bateman, he FOLLOWED paul until i dropped him, only to fight him again. (ó﹏ò｡) i forgot how i fixed their problem, but it was so nerve wracking because at the time, i was really rooting for them. anywya, paul had a tendency to lead him on lolll. every advancement made from batement went in vain. i think that's pretty in character (ᵕ,,—ᴗ—,,)
then this happened ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
PAUL. WHY DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM AFTER FRIENDZONING HIM? i was so frustrated, so for the next 20 minutes, i edited the island and made it so that paul was isolated on one block. i hope he learned his lesson. bateman was bummed out for a little bit during the friendzone and i cheered him up with a horror movie, so how would he feel once paul confessed? when bateman made the move, they became sweethearts for about a week playtime. i was so so tired. i need them dead. but look how cute they are! lets make our men moe
and then.
its extremely funny there's a system allowing men to give birth but whatever. i kicked out the kid when it grew up. lets forget it happened, ok anon? (´・ω・｀)
i fucking hate them dude. what is this. bateman paul live happily ever after!