An extremely intelligent satirical examination of materialism *** (out of ****)

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2002)

In adapting Bret Easton Ellis' controversial though tedious novel, screenwriters Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner have taken the meat and essence of the source story and turned it into a fast paced, energetic, and scathing film. Christian Bale gives an outstanding performance as the avatar of '80's materialism, Patrick Bateman, a yuppie who is cold and completely indifferent to his environment, not to mention totally insane and homicidal. American Psycho takes the viewer on a daring journey into the darkest reaches of the human mind, and although noticeably flawed, it comes out as a thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking study of man's dark desires.