American Psycho (2000)

Director: Mary Harlan
Writers: Mary Harlan, Guinevere Turner
Cast: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Chloe Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, Samantha Mathis, Jared Leto / Willem Dafoe / Carla Seymour
Genre: Drama / Thriller / Crime
Region: United States
Language: English / Spanish / Cantonese
Release: 2000-01-21 (Sundance Film Festival) / 2000-04-14 (USA)
Runtime: 102 minutes
Also known as: Beauty Killer / American Killer / American Madman / American Madman / American Psycho
Rating: IMDB 7.6 / Rotten Tomatoes 68%

Movie Synopsis
Adapted from the controversial novel of the same name by Brett Easton Ellis, the film is a triad satire about American urban life in the late 1980s.
Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale Christian Bale) is the pride of Wall Street, a hot stockbroker, handsome and charming, humorous in conversation, young and promising, he makes countless dollars for his clients every day. But when night falls, the boundless terror of darkness awakens another side of bateman’s dual personality. He kidnapped his prey one by one to his luxury apartment, and tortured them bit by bit. Watching the blood slowly gushing out and the prey dying in pain, an inexplicable pleasure hit him. His identity makes the police officers investigating this series of crimes never list him as a suspect, but another equally bloodthirsty killer wants to make the next more bloody case and become the real king of killers. Bateman’s dual personality kept him busy all day. However, the crime cannot be covered up in the end. What will be the ending of a cold-blooded serial murderer? Will Bateman get caught?

“American Psycho” is a 2000 psychological horror film directed by Mary Harron and based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The movie stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and successful investment banker living in Manhattan during the late 1980s. Bateman’s seemingly perfect life begins to unravel as his inner demons are unleashed and he becomes increasingly obsessed with violence and murder.

The film explores themes of consumerism, narcissism, and the excesses of the 1980s, as well as the breakdown of identity and reality. Bale’s performance as Bateman received critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to portray the character’s suave exterior and inner turmoil.

Upon its release, “American Psycho” sparked controversy and mixed reviews due to its graphic violence and sexual content, but it has since become a cult classic and is considered by many to be a defining film of the 2000s. The movie’s commentary on capitalism, masculinity, and the American Dream has also been the subject of extensive analysis and interpretation.