American Psycho is a satirical horror film set in Manhattan and, more specifically, in the mind of an outwardly impressive, but internally deranged, Patrick Bateman. He massacres his way through the movie, taking the lives of many, often in horrifying ways. His peers look on with disbelief, only seeing the facade of sanity and success he wears. Cryptic and terrifying in the psychopathy of the main character, this movie is not for the faint of heart. It is R-rated. Don’t watch this before you go to sleep.

The acting of Christian Bale, who plays Patrick Bateman is stellar. The audience can effortlessly see through Bateman’s psychotic worldview. This is part of what makes the film so unnerving. Another element the stellar acting helps accomplish is expressing the full range of emotions of Bateman. This adds depth to his character. Also, one cannot ignore that Christian Bale is British, yet managed to pull off a flawless American accent. The supporting roles were acted well too, aiding the quality of the film for the same reasons mentioned above.

The writing remains intriguing throughout the movie. Not only does the script keep readers on edge as to the next moves of Patrick Bateman, it contains a goldmine of amazingly memorable quotes which have lasted through the test of time. Some have become immortal memes. The best part of the script is that it is not loaded with the classic horror movie cliches. Poorly lit hallways, jumpscares, and characters deciding to split up. The movie is terrifying simply through the actions of Patrick Bateman. Moreover, the movie makes it clear that the protagonist is a reflection of an uncaring society obsessed with excess. However; this is delivered subtly, yet another indicator of good writing.