American Psycho

This movie creeped me out, but I enjoyed it nonetheless as it reminded me of something Stephen King would write. It tells a normal story that we can all relate to, only there is this cold, awful streak that runs through it that stirs a little thought deep inside you that whispers “this could really happen, this could seriously be someone I know.” It is only scary because you know a guy like that. The casting of Christian Bale as the “American Psycho” was perfect. He embodies the American man. He is intimidating, built, successful, wealthy, and does whatever he wants. He functions in society and maintains a vice president job during the day and enjoys beating, killing, and disembodying hookers in an empty apartment building that he bought specifically for that use. We hear Christian Bale’s non-diagetic voice as we see him getting ready and we hear the calm insanity that is Patrick Bateman’s thought process. He explains that for all the effort he puts into his outward appearance that he “simply isn’t there”. He is narcistic and obsessive compulsive about his appearance and physical fitness. He interacts with colleagues and is planning to marry his girlfriend. He occasionally lets out random bursts of hateful murderous language that people simply ignore. Sitting with his buddies at a meal he brings up how a serial killer once said he liked to imagine a woman’s head on a stick. He often excuses himself by saying “I have to return some videotapes”. The movie does a great job of showing how someone so normal can be that crazy through good casting and Christian Bale’s performance.