Bianca Garner / American Psycho

Can't get a res at Dorsia? Well, you can always settle in with our analysis of director Mary Harron's killer satire American Psycho. Based on the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel, the film stars Christian Bale in his breakthrough role as investment banker Patrick Bateman, whose career amidst the excess of the late 1980s may have pushed him to engage in a murderous rampage.

Bianca Garner — aka The Film Bee — of Filmotomy joins the show to discuss how the 2000 release brings a distinctive perspective on toxic masculinity. Co-written by Harron and Guinevere Turner, American Psycho uses upbeat pop tunes, an ambiguous narrative and an incredibly complex performance by Bale to create a darkly hilarious and harrowing portrait of the pressures of modern capitalism.

Check out our takes on what Bateman would be doing (and listening to) today as well as why Harron's film is more relevant than ever. We'll see you there. First, we have to go return some videotapes.

SYNOPSIS

Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) is a Wall Street yuppie, obsessed with success, status and style, with a stunning fiancee (Reese Witherspoon). He is also a psychotic killer who rapes, murders and dismembers both strangers and acquaintances without provocation or purpose. Based on the controversial novel, the film offers a sharp satire to the dark side of yuppie culture in the 80s, while setting forth a vision that is both terrifying and chilling.

SHOW NOTES

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