Controversial 2000 movie featuring cinema's most iconic serial killer to finally drop on Netflix
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The addition of 'American Psycho' to the list of titles arriving on Netflix in July 2024 reminds us of the polarized reactions the film received upon its release in 2000.
The satirical horror film, based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name, features Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a young wealthy investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer.
Despite the backlash and censorship against the 1991 novel due to its graphic violence and controversial themes, producer Edward R Pressman was undeterred in his mission to bring it to the big screen, even though Ellis considered it "unadaptable".
'American Psycho' faced harsh critic reviews upon its 2000 release
'American Psycho' had a rough landing in theaters. Kenneth Turan, in his review for Los Angeles Times, called the film, "Stillborn, pointless piece of work."
Jonathan Foreman from New York Post labelled it as “misfiring black comedy."
Even Ellis, author of 'American Psycho', didn't seem too elated to have his work getting a cinematic presentation. In an interview with Film School Rejects, he said, "'American Psycho' I also don’t think really works as a film. The movie is fine, but I think that book is unadaptable because it’s about consciousness, and you can’t really shoot that sensibility."
Luckily, the film found its audience along the way. Christian Bale's portrayal of Patrick Bateman was eventually highly praised.
His performance as the wealthy, materialistic yuppie who meticulously details every aspect of his high-end lifestyle while secretly indulging in horrific crimes gained appreciation for its chilling precision.
Bale's ability to portray Bateman's psychotic duality, seamlessly switching from charming to terrifying was eventually praised by critics and audiences at large.
Roger Ebert wrote, "Christian Bale is heroic in the way he allows the character to leap joyfully into despicability; there is no instinct for self-preservation here, and that is one mark of a good actor."
'American Psycho' developed the "cult" status over the years
Despite the low Tomatometer rating of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have begun to appreciate the film over the years, as evidenced by the audience score of 85%.
Since the mid-2000s, it has developed a cult following and has become a fixture in contemporary meme culture.
The new age generation resonates with the film's themes of consumerism, identity, and sanity. The open ended conclusion has also sparked countless interpretations and discussions, thus making it an engaging watch even after over two-and-half decades.
Comparing the film's reception in comparison to his novel, Ellis believes that people only liked the film because of "woke-ness", cited Lit Hub in the year 2020.
Patrick Bateman, a character written by Bret Easton Ellis, has been one of the deadliest and most intriguing villain protagonist in the history of cinema.
He is young and enjoys a high social status. However, his anxiety and low self-esteem, turns him into a deadly serial killer, which remains open to interpretation and point of debate, owing to his episodes of hallucination.
Audiences praise the film's ability to balance horror and dark comedy despite its disturbing graphic violence.
How to stream 'American Psycho'?
Directed by Mary Harron and co-written with Guinevere Turner, the film is listed for online streaming in selected countries. It is available to rent on Apple TV, Lionsgate or Prime Video.
People with a monthly/yearly subscription to Netflix will be able to watch the satirical horror on their devices without any hassle of renting.
The good news is that the film is arriving on Netflix in July 1, 2024.
'American Psycho' trailer
