A darkly humorous and ambiguous satire

Rating: 8/10 (25 April 2000)

Patrick Bateman is a twenty seven year old wealthy businessman, who resides in a modern chic apartment. He grooms himself with skin lotions, and likes to look his best. But he is not satisfied, because he likes to kill people. An old tramp, prostitutes, and a fellow worker(or does he?) The film is laden with little clues, and the ending makes you think. Bateman can't hide his guilt, but nobody seems interested that he kills people. It is a satire on the eighties, including some good music from that decade, Bateman giving us some info on his favorite artists of the time. There are not many graphic scenes, but one where Bateman is running after a hooker in his apartment with a chainsaw stands out. Christian Bale is perfect as Bateman, suave and softly spoken, and believable as the deranged killer. It's also darkly amusing. One to watch.