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There are fictional killers that fans can’t help but love, due to the way the character is portrayed in the horror flick.
You can’t stand the actions of the monsters, but you can’t help but be fascinated by the psychological side of the killer, wondering how they got to this level or disturbing era in their lives.
Patrick Bateman is obviously considered to be a classic to horror fans, an eccentric serial killer who preys on the weak while using his wealth to have power over everyone.
Why do fans adore Patrick Bateman?
Is it Christian Bale’s iconic performance or is it how the character was written on screen, providing a mystery within the audience with how Bateman’s character is so evil and vile. Do fans possess a love/hate relationship with Patrick Bateman, possibly named after another iconic killer, Norman Bates from Psycho?
Possibly.
Do I love Bateman’s villain arc throughout the entirety of the film? Maybe. Do I find myself rooting for the killer? No. Absolutely not. Do I love how the film portrays Patrick’s character? Yes, of course. Do I think it was genius with using the point of view of a serial killer in this horror film?
Yes, and it was a damn good idea. Following the point of view of an antagonist instead of the hero is what makes a story so much more intriguing, there are so many reasons as to why the first-person point of view works so well in this film.
Warning: Will contain spoilers of American Psycho
1. Patrick Bateman’s Backstory is Never Revealed
Credit to Google
Want to know something crazy about American Psycho?
You never learn the actual backstory of Patrick Bateman.
Never.
I mean, sure his fiancé points out that his father pretty much owns a company and is the reason why Patrick is so rich, but that’s all we learn about his character. Patrick doesn’t even seem to want to talk about his father when Reese Witherspoon’s character mentions him, providing an extra layer to his character.
Did he experience horrible parenting skills at the hands of his father? Does he have a mother? Or other siblings? We will never know, but his bank account is the only clue we have to how he was possibly raised as a child.
2. Bateman Has Somewhat of a Heart
Credit to Google
There is only one victim that Patrick spares, never even going as far to even touch a single hair on their head. Patrick has an assistant named Jean, a young, beautiful woman with a kind soul. Patrick appears taken aback by her during the film, (since he shares a misogynistic view on women with several of his co — workers), but immediately changes his mind when he really notices Jean for the first time, while on a ‘mini date.’
Patrick almost gives in to killing her, ending her with a mercy nail — gun kill to the head, but he lets her go out of the goodness of his heart, warning her that if she stays, he is afraid of what he might do. This scene is so interesting, it adds a huge mystery to Patrick’s character, and it makes me wonder if he ever experienced kindness in his life or didn’t bother to notice until Jean.
3. There is One Scene that Patrick Shows No Empathy Whatsoever After Killing A Co — Worker
Credit to Google
Look, I know that Patrick exhibits no empathy at all whenever he kills his victims horrendously, but there is one particular kill in the film where he becomes eerily calm.
Patrick decides to kill off one of his co — workers with an axe, after experiencing many events of feeling jealous over Paul Allen’s (Jared Leto) character. After literally going on a full rampage with the axe on Allen, he suddenly goes from a full-on maniac to very chill, sitting down on the couch to smoke a cigar, not saying a word.
This sequence is utterly eerie, it’s one of the few scenes that he truly comes off as a sociopath, and I always think: “What was going through his head? Were there any thoughts? Or was he just a blank slate?”
4. Were All the Murders in His Head?
Credit to Google
The biggest mystery to American Psycho is the ending of the film.
It ends with Patrick confessing all of his murders, only to be ignored at the end of the film, going insane that no one is listening to him, accepting that he is a certified psychopath. The novel ends the same way, with Patrick trying to leave his workplace, realizing that the door in front of him was not an exit. In my personal opinion, all the events in the film really did happen.
(Except for the police car scenes with his murder spree, that was impossible) I think the exit sign is a symbol that Patrick can never escape his evil mindset, he will always be trapped within his dark side, in an empty shell of his former self.
Now, I have my next theory, why did no one listen to his outbursts of confessing to multiple murders?
5. Is Everyone Insane Like Patrick, or is There Something Deeper Taking Place Within the Rich Society?
Credit to Google
I know this theory sounds way too far — fetched but hear me out for just a quick minute of your time.
Patrick returns to Paul Allen’s apartment, and discovers that the apartment is completely clean, and appears to be on the market. It is confirmed by an older woman who is attempting to sell the apartment, that he runs into while surveying the ‘crime scene.’
I believe that Patrick is either involved in a murder conspiracy within the rich folk.
It explains why they don’t seem to give a shit whenever he mentions what he did, and why every rich person is so nonchalant about his confessions. I think everyone is either a killer or a sick individual involved in some way, among a sort of ‘rich cult,’ and Patrick lost his mind as a result of his madness.
I guess murdering people with chainsaws and an axe can really take a toll on the mind, huh?
American Psycho is a classic tale, following the story of a sadistic bastard that deserves to be put behind bars, even if his character is so hilarious and fascinating to watch on screen. I guarantee that everyone will love this film, but I can’t promise you can stomach the gory kills that occur during Patrick’s insane cycle of murders.
Thank you for reading!
Emy Quinn
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