American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000)

The first time I watched American Psycho, I hated it. I was 15, immature and expecting another Scream or Friday the 13th. What American Psycho is not is a slasher film. It’s a study of the yuppie culture through extremes, the protagonist taking his repugnant and self absorbed life, a life in which he lives by who he knows and what he owns, into the extremes of violence and mutilation. The film is a far more tamed down version of the book (which still remains the most violent work i’ve ever read) and focuses more on the yuppie culture itself. The conversations between Bateman and his friends are horrid in their shallowness but also utterly hilarious as a consequence. In fact, whilst watching with my friend Vicky, she aptly pointed out that much of Bateman’s speak towards others is embarrassing, almost like a stream of consciousness said out loud.

I very quickly began to appreciate Psycho’s wicked sense of humour and this viewing i was howling. All in all, for what it was aiming to do, it’s a cracker. The tone of the book is nailed and, in the end, the film is more a black comedy than a horror.

All together now: “I need to return some video tapes.”

5/5