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American Psycho
Studio executives summary / pitch
Successful looking young twenty something narcissist in bloody girlfriends in bags fest. Verbally abuse your secretary, get her to make a reservation for the hills, and then run for them.
Short plot summary

Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale) is an apparently successful vice president. However he is CraYZeE!

He lures friends and women to their deaths in deranged axe and clothes hanger fest.

Rating

Restricted to adults only. Contains moments of face mask peel horror, ab crunch torture - and that's just his daily beautifying procedure. Girlfriend in bag horror warning throughout, Huey Lewis and the News alert. Some of the axe scenes may offend at times.

What our panel of critics thought

"Nice moments of upper body male nudity and some of the best men's cosmetics purchasable, I am sure, however, a missed marketing opportunity for the axe manufacturer - are they trying to promote their brand or not?"

"And he gets away with it in the end too. A bloody triumph!"

"I loved to dance to Huey Lewis and the News, but no more! If I were to hear 'Hip to be square' just once more my teddy bear collection could be massacred!"

"Delightfully psychotic! A triumph!"

"Vice President: eat my card!"

"So, that's what it takes to become a vice President, no wonder I never got any higher than assistant cleaner."

"Nice nipples, shame about the knees."

"Painfully un hairy."

"It's a New York chainsaw massacre!"

Please tell me the ending.

Donald Kimball (William Dafoe), investigating the case, seems to be close to getting Bateman, but is he just luckily dropping hints? Sort of a tribute to Columbo thing going on here, possibly, but no epilogue or suspects lined up by the swimming pool.

Our anti-hero confesses to his lawyer as he is becoming increasingly deranged, but, due to a case of mistaken identity, the confession is seen as a joke. The guy, Paul Allen, who Bateman has killed, was apparently seen by Bateman's lawyer after the murder...

It seems that our anti-hero escapes in the end to slice/saw/chew/axe another day, however his secretary has found the diary in which he has drawn incriminating pictures...

If I were to watch this at home how best should I sit?

Avoid sitting with your back to anyone with manicured nails: close all doors to stop them sneaking up with an axe from behind.

Could this movie be improved with more cosmetics?

To start with you wonder if the cosmetics manufacturers missed a product placement opportunity, but once the killing starts it all seems to make sense.

Nice moment of face peeling horror at the beginning: don't fear, fans, that bit is all perfectly harmless. (Yar hargh harggggh!)

Does this film stand up to rigorous reality testing?

It's a satire on society values, success and stuff. All a very good effort, however for those who don't like blood and gore the movie is hard to watch at times. ALSO: Stress alert!

Whilst the movie is pretty to look at in places, the moments of psychotic horror are very violent, although, thankfully, we don't get to see the giblets flying across the screen.

What can I take from this movie to make me a better person?

Your boyfriend could seem to be a really nice guy, washes and shaves properly and all that stuff, but at home, in the closet, does he have bags stuffed with bodies? Well, have you looked? Never trust anyone who looks and smells too nice. Always go for the farty ones.

How much would you pay for a copy of this movie in goods?

A recycled facial peel scrub set.

Real quotes from the movie
"Inside doesn't matter."
"This confession has meant nothing."
Does the film attempt any experimental sexual swear words or hand gestures? If so, please give examples.

No. Could try much harder.

Uses just the usual f-word, no new hand gestures, a surprise.

Other comments

If you like this kind of understated gorefest then it's fine. Whilst no giblets are on show, there is plenty of blood, and stuffed bags with bodies in them.

It is well acted, and satirical. Is his name (Bateman) a tribute to our evil favorite Norman Bates in Psycho? I think we should be told...

Date of review

June 9, 2003

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