American Psycho messes with your head from the start. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s just Patrick’s twisted fantasy. You’ve got the violence, obviously, but then you’ve got stuff like the ATM telling him to feed it a stray cat, or him trying to kill Paul Allen, only to visit his apartment later and find the place spotless and on the market. Like, what is real?
The internet has been in debate about this film’s meaning since its release in 2000. Recently, Bateman has seen a resurgence in popularity with some young men online, once again pulling the true nature of Bateman into play. While there is no correct answer, we thought it might be worth revisiting the film once again.
Digging Deeper Than Paul Allen’s Business Card
A lot of people think that’s the whole point. Bret Easton Ellis, the author of the book, totally played with that ambiguity. He has said that whether Bateman is a murderer or not isn’t the point. “I don’t think it really matters if Patrick Bateman is killing people or not. What I am trying to get across is that he is so empty, that he is beyond redemption,” states Ellis.
Evidence for Team “It Was All in His Head”
There are a few things in the movie that make it seem like Patrick’s just imagining everything:
- The WTF Levels are Off the Charts: Some of the killings are super over-the-top. The chainsaw scene, for instance. You’d think someone would notice, right? It’s all a bit too Hollywood to be real Plus, the ease with which he seems to dispose of bodies is suspicious. New York isn’t exactly the easiest place to get away with hiding a body.
- Paul Allen’s Clean Getaway (or Lack Thereof): When Patrick goes back to Paul Allen’s apartment with his lawyer, it’s been cleaned and is up for sale. The realtor insists that Paul Allen is on a business trip in London. If he really killed Paul Allen, wouldn’t there be, uh, a body? Or at least some bloodstains? The lawyer, meanwhile, insists that he had dinner with Paul Allen in London, adding to the confusion.
- The Confession that Wasn’t: Patrick tries to confess to his lawyer, but the lawyer thinks it’s a joke. Then, later, he claims that he had dinner with Paul Allen in London. This suggests that nobody believes Patrick, or that Paul Allen is still alive. It’s like, nobody takes him seriously, even when he’s admitting to murder. Either Bateman is a joke or what he is saying is so ludicrous that people can’t help but laugh in confusion.
- The Vanishing Act: Remember when Patrick blows up a cop car? Or when he guns down a bunch of people on the street? How could he possibly get away with that in broad daylight in Manhattan without any repercussions? He just goes about his day like nothing has happened to him.
- The Unreliable Narrator: Patrick is clearly losing it throughout the movie. He’s hallucinating, he’s paranoid, and he can’t even keep his own story straight. Patrick is obviously a god in his story, but should we trust his view on reality?
- No Physical Evidence: Despite all the supposed murders, there’s never any real evidence linking Patrick to the crimes. No bodies, no witnesses, no blood, no nothing. It’s like, the whole thing is happening in a vacuum.
But What if He Did Do It?
Okay, so what if he did actually commit the murders? What if the movie is showing how easy it is for a rich, privileged guy to get away with anything? Think about it. He lives in a world where appearances are everything. If you look good, dress well, and have the right business card, people will believe whatever you say. So, maybe everyone is in denial, or maybe they just don’t care enough to look beneath the surface.
The Social Commentary is the Real Slasher
American Psycho is more than just blood and violence. It’s a look at how messed up society can be. It’s about how easy it is to hide behind a mask of success, and how people can get so caught up in their own little worlds that they don’t notice the darkness around them. The real horror isn’t the chainsaw, it’s the indifference.
The Truth is More Horrifying
Ultimately, American Psycho isn’t really about who Patrick Bateman kills. It’s about the sickness inside Patrick’s head, and maybe in all of us. It shows how someone can be completely disconnected from reality, living in a world of their own fantasies, and what can happen when society ignores those warning signs. It’s a commentary on wealth, superficiality, and the kind of unchecked male ego that lets guys get away with… well, maybe murder. The scariest part is, whether he did it or not, the potential for that kind of darkness is always there. And that, my friends, is seriously messed up.