His horrible crimes against men and women are described without sparing a single detail, which could be the reason why the novel became so famous (or infamous).
His dark yet comedic character is what draws people in, because it's so different from the usual sociopaths depicted in film. Viewers even relate to Bateman in different aspects, making him an appealing personality which would cause the movie to skyrocket in views once more since its release.
"American Psycho" is fascinating to watch because Bateman is such a complex character. We feel revulsion at his violent tendencies, amused by his complete superficiality, and pity at his crumbling sanity.
Not a single stale moment in the film, and the acting is just stellar for the least. American Psycho is a great metaphor on humanity, how people lead double lives, the authenticity is gone and it's often a blur till you lose yourself completely. There is just SO MUCH YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THIS FILM!
Why Is American Psycho So Popular In Meme Culture?
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.
In Germany, the book was deemed "harmful to minors" and its sales and marketing severely restricted from 1995 to 2000. In Australia, the book is sold shrink-wrapped and is classified "R18" under national censorship legislation (i.e., the book may not be sold to those under 18 years of age).
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, ...
The film received positive reviews, with praise for Bale's performance and the screenplay. Grossing over $34 million on a $7 million budget, the film was considered a box-office success. Following the DVD release in 2005, American Psycho quickly developed a large cult following.
They satirize everything from foodie culture to the moral emptiness of the ultra-wealthy. But they get a lot of comedic mileage out of the male anxiety which courses through Bateman's life like blood through a body.
While it's true that Patrick is experiencing delusions and hallucinations, it doesn't mean that the murders are in his head. Turner blames the muddiness of the ending on the dichotomy between the fantasy world that Bateman is currently living in and the reality of the murderous situation at hand.
'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.
Patrick Bateman is the protagonist in the film "American Psycho", and he suffers from three personality disorders, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder.
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.
In entertainment, the disorder has been misrepresented in characters like Monica from Friends and Adrian from Monk. Patrick Bateman's psychopathy also shows up with his OCD as his thoughts directly impact his behavior, which he seems to not be in control of either despite his consciousness in murdering people.
For starters, it's a feminist film, a satirical take that revolves around the impact of society on men and then in turn the impact of men on society. Additionally, American Psycho is a masterful case study into the frameworks of the male psyche. This is largely possible due to Mary Harron's objective approach.
tl;dr: Paul Allen/Paul Owen is an executive at Pierce & Pierce and is perceived by Bateman as being his better. In Jungian psychology Allen (Owen) is Bateman's shadow and Bateman either kills Paul Allen/Paul Owen and gets away with it or stops obsessing over him and Allen (Owen) is only mentioned in passing.
McDermott: So what did Ed say? Bateman: When I see a pretty girl walking down the street I think two things. One part of me wants to take her out and talk to her and be real nice and sweet and treat her right. McDermott: And what did the other part think?
Throughout the film, Patrick Batemen's deranged thoughts and actions only get weirder and weirder until eventually reaching a true breaking point. But one theory believes that the mass murderer only killed one person, leaving his body count nothing more than a hallucination.
Despite his affluence and high social status, Bateman is constantly plagued by unsettling feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. He kills many of his victims because they make him feel inadequate, usually by having better taste than he does.
He usually hangs out with his coworkers at P&P but secretly hates most of them. Bateman kills men and women, the latter for sadistic sexual pleasure and the former because they anger him and make him feel inferior.
Conclusion: “American Psycho” is a thought-provoking film that delves into complex themes of toxic masculinity, societal decay, and the impact of media.
Out of all American Psycho's many crimes (murder, rape, torture), the one that finally got it in trouble with the police was … a lack of shrink wrap. In Australia, books with mature content can only be sold in shrink-wrapped plastic (presumably so minors don't flip through them by accident).
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.
