SPOILERS SPOILERS

After seeing this movie about a dozen times in the now almost 20 years since the movie came out, and reading the book somewhere in between, I love this movie for being able to be interpreted multiple ways. The most obvious way is that he is a serial killer but gets away with it.

Another interpretation that really popped during this most recent viewing was that it was all in his head... All of the scenes that make him out to be such a sociopath are over the top because they never happened (except in his head). He's a mentally ill, socially awkward guy who dreamed up the personality we see on the movie as his escape from his depressing reality. He is doing everything he can in an attempt to be mentally healthy; he works, takes care of himself physically, but he has no real relationships because he can't help it. He didn't kill any women, he unintentionally chases them away to the point even prostitutes don't want to be around him. Rather than have all those scarring memories as his crippling reality, he chooses to remember the people he chases away as victims of a smooth talking serial killer who we, the audience, can see is disconnected but he only appears disconnected because we're viewing him through a mentally ill person's perception of their own fantasy.

When he tells the bartender "I want to stab you to death, and play around with your blood.", that's just the reply he wishes he said but didn't. His breakdown at the end of the movie is his real cry for help because, in an attempt to live a "normal" life, he's been hiding symptoms of his illness too successfully for his own good and he's losing touch because of an illness he can't control. The drawings his secretary finds are real but aren't evidence of murder, they're just an example of his obsession with finding a girl to have a meaningful relationship with that he morphed into a Patrick Bateman that doodles these fantasy women as murder victims. The secretary of course will be further chased away by this, as has happened with everyone else he attempts to have a personal relationship with.

One of my all time favorite movies. There's a lot to catch in this flick. I've probably seen this movie 30+ times, and I still catch little things here and there. My favorite thing about American Psycho is the fact that you're not sure what's real and what's not. There are a lot of different ways to perceive what's going on in the film, which I won't spoil, and this is what makes the movie a classic in my house.

"There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman; some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me: only an entity, something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable... I simply am not there."

Christian Bale carries this movie. It is riveting. Sometimes difficult to watch. Stay with it. You will not forget this movie. It is a wonderful example of theater craft; both from the acting, writing, and delivery. As I say, some scenes can be offensive...don't judge this movie by those scenes. Mr. Bale is just an awesome actor and has shown us that since "Empire of the Sun, " when he was 12 years old! Enjoy!

I can't believe I put off seeing this movie for so long since I am a fan of Christian Bale. This movie is an amazing satire of 1980's excess. For those saying it was strange, hard to follow or had no plot - that is the point!! The narrator of the story is a psychopath. It is a scary trip into his mind and into the "me generation" of the 80s. Great, great movie.

This movie is somewhat a study of the 80's yuppie scene and although extreme at times it shows how self-absorbed these people were. But the most notable characteristic is that our main man can hide more or less in plain view the fact that he was and is an insane serial killer. The murders are quite horrific almost to the point of absurdity because our character seems to take so much joy in what he does, with no remorse or guilt whatsoever. Christian Bale is in almost every single scene and I cannot think of another actor who could have carried this role off with as much intensity as Christian did. While somewhat disturbed by the brutality and horror connected with the killings, you cannot help but wonder where the character will finally meet his end. Or does he ever?

It's really a one of a kind movie. The first time I watched it I was mostly into Christian Bale's performance and could take or leave the rest. The more I watch it though, the more I like the overall package. It captures the superficiality of the 80s business world to perfection, and Bale as the empty on the inside Patrick Bateman is the perfect way to view this world. Narratively it's somewhat oddly structured, but that can largely be chalked up to the source material. It may take a couple of watches to reconcile the ending completely, but it's worth the work.

I first saw this on Netflix and after watching it watched it two more times over the next day. This movie was really diffrent and that was refreshing. I see theres really no middle ground with the reviews people love it or hate it. Christian Bale as Bateman was an excellent performance and I dont think it wouldve been the same without him. My favorite part is when he goes on his rant about Huey lewis and the news while playing its hip to be square classic. If you havent seen this if you like dark comedy with some crazy mixed in youll enjoy it. If you have seen it and liked it for the price its really worth adding to your collection. Fun to watch.