Slasher, with style and wit.

Rating: 10/10 (20 September 2000)

American Psycho is a rare and refreshing movie that breathes new life into the horror film genre. However, to call American Psycho simply a slasher film, is wrong. This film rises above all genres to become an instant classic. Ever since the original Scream, killer movies have tried to follow a very familiar and formulaic path. American Psycho delivers all the horror, but still tells an intriguing psychological tale of a killer in the 1980's.
American Psycho tells the story of Patrick Bateman. Bateman works on Wall Street, and is basically a rich yuppie trying to fit in. He listens to all the latest music, like Huey Lewis and the News, and does 1,000 crunches every day. This is Patrick Bateman by day. By night, he must satisfy a terrible blood lust.
Patrick Bateman is played brilliantly by Christian Bale. Bale displays Bateman with an absolute coldness. It is as if the only humanity displayed by him is when he is killing someone. I think that Christian Bale is someone to be watched and I see Oscars in his future. He takes on a role which he describes as being, "an acting teachers nightmare." Christian Bale, however, is an absolute dream as Patrick Bateman. To think that the role originaly belonged to Leonardo DiCaprio. Nobody else could have played Bateman except Christian Bale.
American Psycho is masterfully directed by Mary Harron. She injects the film with a sort of style that is all its own. Not only style, but substance. Every scene hints at the psychological make-up of Patrick Bateman. It's very kinetic, as it rises faster and faster to an unbelievable climax.
Overall, American Psycho is a must-see movie for those who have the stomach for it. If possible, see the unrated version, as it shows Mary Harron's true vision.