a nasty piece of work made tolerable by a committed actor

Rating: Null/10 (22 May 2019)

In the late 1980s, twenty-seven-year-old Patrick Bateman-a shallow, narcissistic, and affluent businessman who works in mergers and acquisitions on Wall Street-lives the indulgent high life, and feels the need to fit in...but he also has a dark secret: he's an impulsive, psychopathic murderer who despite having all the characteristics of a human being, finds it increasingly difficult to control his nightly bloodlust. To watch this film is like seeing a natural disaster unfold right before your eyes; part psychological horror film, part dark comedy, part satirical thriller and character study with a vicious barrage of overkill, this surreal, uneven blend is not for the faint of heart, yet it's well-cast and very interesting, spotlights some memorable 80s tunes, and is carried a long way by Bale's devastating, undaunted performance. His work alone makes it worth the viewing experience. **Â½