Murderous Misanthrope

Rating: Null/10 (9 November 2000)

(My following comments may give away essential plot points.)
The movie puts us in the mind of a mad man, Patrick Bateman, who's telling us his story. Identity is a hard thing to come by in his Wall Street world, even for his male colleagues, with their unexplained misogynism. Work, living address, clothes, restaurants frequented and particularly the design of one's business card are vital means for providing this. Attempting to explain the point of everything to his fiancee, Bateman says in his careful pronunciation, "Because I want to fit in."
Bateman's story is complicated by his increasing insanity. He tells us that he's very aware that he's not what he pretends to be. But he's unaware in his storytelling that much if not all of his overpowering, murderous mental state is not really acted out. We know this because of the completely outrageous and careless way his crimes are committed. And secondly his desperate point blank confessions lack supporting physical evidence or response from his listener. These confessions and Bateman's efforts to maintain composure produce a degree of pathos for a wretched and despicable character.
There are dark humorous touches in the movie. One is Bateman's smooth, practiced critique of the profundity of the pop music that he plays during some of his crimes. Above all the movie is not a gore fest.