The film is presented in a first person monologue format. For those of you who have seen “Fight Club” you will understand what I am referring to. No Edward Norton this time. In his place we have one Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale). Bateman is a typical 80’s icon. Successful, ruthless, suave and intelligent. He works in the New York Stock Exchange, drives around in a limousine, has membership with all the exclusive clubs in the City. You could fairly much say he has it all.

For all his wealth, success and power, Bateman has a really serious problem. He is extremely susceptible to both paranoid delusions and psychotic tendencies. He is convinced everyone is out to get him. He is extremely envious and jealous of his friends and colleagues and what they have, yet he has plenty of his own. He is so intensely paranoid of everyone around him or of those he comes into contact with, that as a result he is prone to massive psychological problems, resulting in countless acts of mindless violence upon others resulting in death on practically every occasion. No matter who gets in his way it ends up in some act of mindless violence. Colleagues, the homeless, prostitutes (which he has a particular penchant for I will add), even one of his closest friends Paul Allen (portrayed by Jared Leto) are butchered during Bateman’s rage. Such is his paranoia that Bateman himself cannot define whether his actions are for real, or some twisted part of his imagination. It is the murder of Allen that sparks an interest in Bateman by Detective Donald Kimball, played by fine actor Willem Dafoe. Then the cracks really start to appear in Bateman’s façade. Or as he put’s it

As the film is based in the 1980’s you will find a lot of golden oldie soundtracks within it. Stuff like Phil Collins, Genesis, Whitney Houston (personal favourites of Bateman’s I will add). Therefore I would heartily recommended purchasing the CD if like me you are a child of the 80’s. Graphically however this is not for the faint hearted, and I would strongly suggest not one to watch whilst the children are still up. Some of the scenes, in particular the death of Paul Allen, after a nasty mishap with an axe (watch it and see) are particularly disturbing and not for the faint of heart. Don’t be misled however as this s not a horror movie. This is a film which intricately probes the human psyche. What makes us tick? Why does a man with everything at his disposal seek continual violence? What spurs him on? The film takes on many different emotions – rage, hatred, anger, paranoia, lust, want, desire they are all here to be viewed. Christian Bale, who I have never heard of before until this film, is absolutely excellent in his portrayal as the psychotic Bateman. His on screen presence is chilling, cold and calculating, yet reckless and emotionless also. The best way I could describe him is as a modern day Norman Bates. It’s difficult to assess the other actors and their parts as I felt they were only there to fill the gaps as the film concentrates on Bateman’s character, his thoughts and actions. Occasionally we are treated to a monologue from him, describing his thoughts in a vain attempt to make sense of what is going on in his head and rationalise his actions. But can we really attempt to understand the workings of a paranoid psychotic who does not even understand himself? As with another favourite of mine, “Fight Club”, there is a very interesting twist right at the very end which leaves you thinking “ok, so what the hell did that film mean”?