American Psycho (2000) ft. VP Morris

Guest:

• VP Morris

  • Award-winning thriller and horror writer and podcaster;

  • vpmorris.com, @teawriterepeat on IG and X, The Dead Letters Podcast;

  • Previously on Scream (1996), The Shining (1980), and Rear Window (1954)

Cast:

• Mary Harron, Writer/Director

• Guinevere Turner, Co-writer

• Andrzej Sekuła, Cinematographer

• John Cale, Music

• Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman

• Justin Theroux as Timothy Bryce

• Josh Lucas as Craig McDermott

• Bill Sage as David Van Patten

• Chloë Sevigny as Jean

• Reese Witherspoon as Evelyn Williams

• Samantha Mathis as Courtney Rawlinson

• Matt Ross as Luis Carruthers

• Jared Leto as Paul Allen

• Willem Dafoe as Donald Kimball

Background:

• American Psycho was released on April 14, 2000.

• On a budget of $7 million, the film would go on to gross $34 million finishing as the 95th highest grossing film of 2000 worldwide.

• The film originally debuted at the Sundance film festival earlier that year and was polarizing for many critics with some enjoying the horror/comedy and Christian Bale's performance while others criticized it for its excess violence.

• Since the mid-2000s, the film has attracted a sizeable cult following, which has grown in the 2010s on various social media platforms.

• In 2014, WhatCulture included Christian Bale's role in their top "10 Most Convincing Movie Psychopath Performances".

• Bloody Disgusting ranked the film at No. 19 in its list of the "Top 20 Horror Films of the Decade", with the article praising "Christian Bale's disturbing/darkly hilarious turn as serial killer/Manhattan businessman Patrick Bateman, a role that in hindsight couldn't have been played by any other actor."

• American Psycho currently holds a 68% among critics on RT, a 64 score on Metacritic, and a 3.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Plot Summary: American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a wealthy and successful New York investment banker in the 1980s, whose polished and charming exterior hides a chilling secret: he’s a violent, unhinged killer. As his grip on reality begins to fray, the story delves into themes of consumerism, identity, and moral decay, leaving us questioning what is real and what exists only in his fractured mind.

Did You Know:

• Looking for a way to create the character of Patrick Bateman, Christian Bale stumbled onto a Tom Cruise appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman (1993). According to co-writer and director Mary Harron, Bale saw in Cruise "this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes," and Bale subsequently based the character of Bateman on that. Interestingly, Tom Cruise is actually featured in the novel. He lives in the same apartment complex as Bateman, who meets him in an elevator and gets the name of Cocktail (1988) wrong, calling it "Bartender."

• During production, Christian Bale followed the morning routine that his character Patrick Bateman describes toward the beginning of the film.

• The film had various problems with designer labels during production. Cerruti agreed to allow Christian Bale to wear their clothes, but not when the character was killing anyone. Rolex agreed that anyone in the film could wear their watches except Bateman (hence the famous line from the book "Don't touch the Rolex" had to be changed to "Don't touch the watch"). Perry Ellis provided underwear at the last minute after Calvin Klein pulled out of the project. Comme des Garçons refused to allow one of their overnight bags to be used to carry a corpse, so Jean Paul Gaultier was used instead.

• Christian Bale insisted on getting Bret Easton Ellis's approval for his portrayal before filming and arranged a meeting. Bale showed up to the meeting dressed and groomed as Bateman, even introducing himself as "Patrick Bateman". After 10 minutes, Easton Ellis begged Bale to stop because his hands were shaking and he could not take it anymore. Easton Ellis has said this was the single creepiest moment of his life.

• Christian Bale was warned by many that it would be career suicide for him to play the lead in a film like this. This only made him more eager to take the part, inspired by Nicolas Cage in Vampire's Kiss (1988). Fortunately for him, the opposite turned out to be true. Bale's role in the movie was considered a breakthrough performance and enabled him to shift his career from supporting roles to leading man status in the decades to come. This finally culminated in roles in the Batman and Terminator franchises, wide critical acclaim, as well as several movie awards nominations - including an Oscar win.

Best Performance: Christian Bale (Patrick)/Mary Harron (Director/Writer)

Best Secondary Performance: Christian Bale (Patrick)/Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner (Writers)

Most Charismatic Award: Christian Bale (Patrick)/Reese Witherspoon (Evelyn)

Best Scene:

• Morning Routine

• Dinner Conversation

• Business Cards

• Hip to Be Square

• Kimball

• Three-way Sex

• Jean at Patrick's

• Chainsaw Massacre

• Confronting the Lawyer

Favorite Scene: Business Cards/Morning Routine/Hip to be Square

Most Indelible Moment: Confronting the Lawyer/Dorsia Maitre'd

In Memorium:

• Bruce Glover, 92, American actor (Diamonds are Forever, Walking Tall, Chinatown, Hard Times)

• Robert McGinnis, 99, American artist and illustrator (creator of the iconic James Bond posters, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Barbarella, The Odd Couple posters)

• Ted Kotcheff, 94, Canadian director and producer (First Blood, Weekend at Bernie's, Fun with Dick and Jane)

• Nicky Katt, 54, American actor (Dazed and Confused, Boston Public, A Time to Kill)

• Michael Haley, 67, actor (The Maxx, Biloxi Blues, Primary Colors, Regarding Henry)

• Robert Trebor, 72, American actor (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess; Hail, Caesar)

• Johnny Tillotson, 86, American singer and songwriter (songs: "It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin'," “Poetry in Motion,”)

• Joey D Vieira, 80, American actor (Lassie, The Patriot, Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

• Jay North, 73, American actor (Dennis the Menace, Maya, Arabian Nights)

Best Lines/Funniest Lines:

Patrick Bateman: I have to return some videotapes.

Patrick Bateman: 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.

Patrick Bateman: There is a moment of sheer panic when I realize that Paul's apartment overlooks the park... and is obviously more expensive than mine.

Patrick Bateman: I live in the American Gardens Building on W. 81st Street on the 11th floor. My name is Patrick Bateman. I'm 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

Patrick Bateman: There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this, there is no catharsis; my punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself. No new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing.

Patrick Bateman: Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Patrick Bateman: I'm in murders and executions.

Patrick Bateman: I want to fit in.

Patrick Bateman: I like to dissect girls. Did you know I'm utterly insane?

Patrick Bateman: I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

Patrick Bateman: Come on, Bryce. There are a lot more important problems than Sri Lanka to worry about.

Timothy Bryce: Like what?

Patrick Bateman: Well, we have to end apartheid for one. And slow down the nuclear arms race, stop terrorism and world hunger. We have to provide food and shelter for the homeless, and oppose racial discrimination and promote civil rights, while also promoting equal rights for women. We have to encourage a return to traditional moral values. Most importantly, we have to promote general social concern and less materialism in young people.

Luis Carruthers: [feigning tears] Patrick. How thought-provoking.

Patrick Bateman: Do you like Huey Lewis and The News?

Patrick Bateman: You're a fucking ugly bitch. I want to stab you to death, and then play around with your blood.

Patrick Bateman: Hey, I'm a child of divorce, gimme a break!

Patrick Bateman: Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark!

Patrick Bateman: Evelyn, I'm sorry. I just, uh... you're not terribly important to me.

Evelyn Williams: What does Mr. Grinch want for Christmas? And don't say breast implants again.

The Stanley Rubric:

Legacy: 6.33

Impact/Significance: 5

Novelty: 8.5

Classic-ness: 9.17

Rewatchability: 5.67

Audience Score: 8.7 (89% Google, 85% RT)

Total: 43.37

Remaining Questions:

• What do you think the ending means?

• Is Patrick Bateman really Patrick Bateman?

• Is Patrick closeted?

• Is there a chance that Dorsia doesn't exist?