American Psycho (2000) Dir: Mary Harron
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Mary Harron's iconic adaptation of the 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis has become one of the most referenced films in modern pop culture. It's full of memorable, quotable and hilariously over-the-top moments that have helped the horror comedy leave a distinct Patrick Bateman-shaped impact on cinema.
The film is, of course, a clear and effective allegory of toxic masculinity, materialism, consumerism, greed, vanity, identity and capitalism. Harron tackled these themes with gusto, and was not afraid to go to absurd levels to mock and explore them.
The film's satirical nature is offset by some intense and bloody violence. These action scenes may be as gratuitous as they are comical, but they are extremely effective in showing the escalation in both the storyline and its protagonist. These scenes are accompanied very entertainingly by an upbeat 80s soundtrack, which only feeds the comedy.
The story itself builds and escalates with its protagonist, culminating in a fast-paced and ludicrous finale that is as thrilling as it is funny. I really appreciated how Harron used this escalation with a gradually increasing pace, which allowed the audience to feel the thrill and rush of the film's main character. For me, it was really nicely executed.
Christian Bale plays the deranged, and dramatic businessman and serial killer with satirical genius. I love how masterfully dry and deadpan much if his delivery is - it only emphasises the hilarious irony and hypocrisy of his character, as well as those he associates with. The charisma and insecurity he shows is just brilliant.
Willem Dafoe provides a very interesting performance, which was aided by the way in which his parts were shot - adding to the mystery of his character's thoughts and intentions, as well as the paranoia that forms within the protagonist. Dafoe is so good at looking or acting a little disturbing, and while this was one of his more subtle portrayals, those little moments persist, and were very well placed.
Of the rest of the supporting cast, Jared Leto, Chloë Savigny and Reese Witherspoon all provide entertaining, if relatively brief, performances, while the likes of Josh Lucas, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Bill Sage, Cara Seymour and Justin Theroux are all worth mentioning for their appearances.
Overall, this is a classic of the early naughties, and its consistent survival in the mainstream is certainly justified. I love how ridiculous and surprisingly relevant this film is, when thinking of the themes listed earlier. I would certainly list it as a great book-to-film adaptation, that is always worth a watch.
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