DOUBLE REVIEW: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and American Psycho (2000)

 

 

  

American

Psycho

During the 80s, a YUPPY with a taste for "murders and decapitations" is at large in NYC. 

After years of hearing about AMERICAN PSYCHO I finally gave it a shot. Since Christian Bale stars as Patrick Bateman, I was immediately amused, as I have a high school buddy who could be his twin. And consider this timeline, Bale did this movie in 2000, THE MACHINIST in 2004 and BATMAN BEGINS in 2005. Of course, there's a bunch of other movies mixed in there, but the way Bale dedicates himself to a role is amazing!

 

So, you have a theme here. A bunch of young rich New Yorkers are living large, obsessed with brand names and fashion. For Patrick Bateman, he has various other diversions including a pr0n addiction, sadism, and violence. Anything you've ever heard about the movie American Psycho is probably correct. It's insane and out of control. It's gratuitous in it's gore. But the extreme violence and the LACK of police intervention and the twist of an ending makes you wonder if any of this tale is true or just the figment of the deranged mind Bateman. I have heard and read many discussion about what this movie is truly symbolic of. But the direction is so clever that you are fine with wondering about what's real and what's not, along with our protagonist (or is he really and antagonist?) that makes the film even more enjoyable.

 

This movie is, without a doubt, a horror film but it's been dressed up in a fine Armani suit. It is amazing to watch as you are horrified by what goes on. If you have NOT seen this, and considered it, I would recommend it. 

 

AMAZON

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American

Psycho

by Bret Easton Ellis

During the 80s, a YUPPY with a taste for "murders and decapitations" is at large in NYC. 

The movie American was based on a BOOK believe it or not. While discussing movies with a friend on the bus she informed me that the movie was based on a book and recommended that I should read it. She said everything on screen is in those pages. The big difference is that the book is even more violent and twisted than the cinematic version. This was something I couldn't even fathom and acquired a copy post-haste! 

Sure enough, she wasn't exaggerating. The book, which came out originally in 1991, contains scenes of extreme violence depicted that were horrendous. Also, there was just so much more going on. All types and variations of brutalities taking place. Patrick Bateman was a legitimate deviant and serial killer in the book. The word was out for a murderer and they even had a description, but since Yuppies are more or less interchangeable, he was lost in NYC like a needle in a haystack. So in this original version of the story, Bateman was definitely not suffering from violent delusions. 

 

This is when I have trouble deciding how to sum this book up. It truly is "well written" however disturbing and horrific it might be. It's unusual and imaginative, while being unsettling. While I have read plenty of horror stories in the past, this one is, certainly, in a league of its own.   

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