American Psycho

"American Psycho" is twenty-two years old at the moment of this writing. Yet this horror film, drenched with comedy and replete with underlying social background, is as potent as it was in 2000. This is largely owing to Christian Bale's astonishingly accurate acting and Mary Harron's excellent directing.

Patrick Bateman (by Christian Bale) has it all: success, attractiveness, and even a lovely girlfriend (by Reese Witherspoon). However, all of his pleasantries are just an act. At night, his murderous instincts emerge. He yearns to control and torture people. This man, an American psycho influenced by yuppie culture, becomes anxious over even the tiniest detail - such as the sharpness of his card, or his failure to book reservations at an expensive restaurant. Patrick is also meticulous about his looks. Everything he possesses reflects his desire for "being the best."

His coworkers and pals are practically cut from the same fabric: their materialism runs through them all. In many respects, these characters are carbon copies of one another - they are hollow, egotistical, and devoid of definition. Patrick is often concerned about fitting in, yet he understands that deep inside, he is just as hollow and empty as everyone else around him.

Release year: 2000

IMDB Score: 7.6/10

Metascore: 64/100