Not everyone is like Bateman, but many people share the same empty feelings, and some feel the urge for violence. As such, American Psycho was a novel truly ahead of its time, and in retrospect, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Bale in the role.

Was American Psycho all in his imagination?

The ambiguous ending of American Psycho is intentional, with director Mary Harron and writer Guinevere Turner confirming that Bateman is indeed a serial killer, but many viewers misunderstand it as an "it was all a dream" trope.

What timeline was American Psycho?

Plot. Set in Manhattan during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s, American Psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker Patrick Bateman.

Why was American Psycho so controversial?

His transgressive third novel, 'American Psycho', was the one that truly propelled him into the spotlight. Upon its release, it was widely condemned as being too graphically violent, outright misogynistic and got him labelled as a sadist.

Was Patrick Bateman schizophrenic?

In Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is apparently simply a psychopath. However, Bateman can be diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as Asperger's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, narcissism, and antisocial personality disorder.

American Psycho Ending Explained: What Really Happened?

Was Patrick Bateman just hallucinating?

It is left open to reader interpretation whether Bateman actually commits the crimes he describes, or whether he is merely hallucinating them; he is, therefore, an unreliable narrator. In the climax of the story, Bateman calls his lawyer and leaves a lengthy, detailed message confessing all of his crimes.

Why did Patrick Bateman lose his mind?

TL;DR: Patrick Bateman has a mental disorder caused by lifelong conflict-of-interests with his father. He doesn't actually kill anyone in the film; all the murders take place in his sleep, but they're vivid enough dreams that he can't separate them from reality.

Why is Gen Z obsessed with American Psycho?

As journalist Shaurya Singh wrote in the newsletter The Digital Native, Bateman's main characteristics – his sexual insecurity, insensitivity, shallowness and obsession with money – connected with some of the obsessions of Generation Z (and plenty of other generations) during the pandemic.

What is the true message of American Psycho?

American Psycho explores the inherent violence of corporate greed, using Patrick Bateman's sadistic acts as a metaphor for the callousness of Wall Street. The film's ambiguous ending signifies Bateman's moral awakening, as he tries to hold himself accountable for his actions while those around him remain indifferent.

Why is American Psycho banned in schools?

As for its ban history, American Psycho faced its fair share of controversy. It was banned in some countries, and there were protests against it due to its graphic content. However, it also sparked debates about censorship and the boundaries of artistic expression.

How accurate is American Psycho?

Thankfully Patrick Bateman is purely fictional, and psychopaths are not the murderers they are perceived as in literature. Instead, those with ASPD succeed in business thanks to their mastery of maintaining a personal image and ability to manipulate others for personal gain.

Why did Patrick Bateman's lawyer call him Davis?

According to the Wiki article, the lawyer "mistakes him for another colleague". This is supposed to drive home the fact that although he is somewhat of a narcissist, he is unimportant to certain people around him.

Is Patrick Bateman an unreliable narrator?

By interpreting American Psycho with Patrick Bateman as an unreliable narrator, the reader realises that Bateman's confession, even if it refers to crimes he did not commit, certainly did not mean nothing.

Was Patrick Bateman actually killing?

We really set out to make it really clear that he was really killing these people, that this was really happening.” Also confirmed by the author of the novel Bret Easton Ellis: “If none of the murders actually happened, the entire point of the novel would be rendered moot.”

What mental illness does Patrick Bateman have?

In Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is apparently simply a psychopath. However, Bateman can be diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as Asperger's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, narcissism, and antisocial personality disorder.

Why does Patrick Bateman hate Dorsia?

Bateman resents Allen for his affluent lifestyle and ability to obtain reservations at Dorsia, a highly exclusive restaurant which Bateman cannot get into. He gets Allen drunk, lures him to his apartment and kills him with an axe while listening to Huey Lewis and the News and lecturing Allen on the merits of the band.

What does feed me a stray cat mean?

'Feed Me A Stray Cat' Scene | American Psycho - YouTube. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) attempts to murder a cat after following the instructions of an ATM, which leads to more killings.

What happened to all the bodies in American Psycho?

In the final scene of American Psycho, serial killer Patrick Bateman returns to Paul Allen's apartment, the location of some of his worst crimes, and finds it to be clean and free of bodies.

What American Psycho teaches us?

American psycho shows the materialistic world we live in, where even though he's carrying a body in a bag, all people notice is the brand of his bag. People's obsession with a restaurant where no one can make reservations and peak elitism. This film shows it all and delivers.

Is Patrick Bateman a Sigma or Alpha?

It's made clear there is no "top" to Bateman. There is only becoming more successful than the previous day. Therefore, Bateman would be a Sigma in that regard. In American Psycho's first act, Bateman makes it known to his fiancée that he wishes to conform to society as best he can, unlike his other roles.

Why do girls like Patrick Bateman?

Patrick Bateman satisfies all of these qualifications of problematic masculinity: he has money and displays of such wealth; he is physically fit and attractive to women; his career and lifestyle designate him as elite; and, most disturbingly, he describes himself as having “not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, ...

Why does Gen Z have the most mental illness?

While Gen Z tends to report worse mental health, the underlying cause is not clear. There are several age-specific factors that may impact Gen Z's mental health independent of their generational cohort, including developmental stage, level of engagement with healthcare, and familial or societal attitudes.

Did the detective know Patrick killed Paul?

Detective Kimball and Patrick Bateman

This is partly because, for all of Willem Dafoe's scenes as Detective Kimball, director Mary Harron had him act three different ways. He's unaware that Patrick killed Paul. He's suspicious of Patrick and wants to know more.

Whose head was in Patrick's Fridge?

Whose head is in Patrick Bateman's fridge? The woman who he picked up in the previous scene at the club with Bryce, where he did the cocaine in the back room.

What did Patrick Bateman realize?

As the camera slowly zooms into Patrick's eyes, Patrick delivers his chilling final monologue as a voiceover in which he realizes that his crimes have gone unpunished and his confession has meant nothing.