American Psycho by Amber S. Palmer - 10th Post

American Psycho

Novel By: Bret Easton Ellis
Director: Mary Harron
Screenwriter: Mary Harron & Guinevere Turner

American Psycho, an adaptation of the novel, tells the brutally violent secret life of young, wealthy investment banker Patrick Bateman. This film was brought to life by Mary Harron, who also directed I Shot Andy Warhol (one of my favorites). The film sought critical acclaim after its dark humor and disturbing look at random acts of violence possessed by a young man. The adaptation was loosely translated through Bateman’s voiceovers in the film. Bateman’s account of his day to day activities whether it took place in his office or detailing one of his murders, each account was used verbatim from the novel. Surprisingly, the novel and the film didn’t go through many vast changes. The only changes were some of the characters name and an ambiguous plot point, not easily identified unless the novel is read. The two mediums do a tremendous job advertising Bateman’s violence into “simplicity” and emerging into outright evil madness. In the novel, Bateman engages into bold conversations with co-workers and friends about his murderous actions, yet they all react to him as if he’s joking or they seem to ignore him. This brings up the question of whether or not Bateman is truly indulging in murder or either it’s a figment of his imagination. After reviewing the film for the fourth time, the ambiguity lingers of Bateman’s questionable state of mind. Harron translated Bateman’s unanswered oddities of murder extremely precise because as the viewer it is pretty obvious Bateman’s insanity is full of delusions and homicidal fantasies. The novelist left the story with an open ending that could only be determined by whatever the reader would like to believe. The only mere difference between the novel and the film was the ending. The novel’s ending would have served a better purpose because it shows Bateman gazing at a Chemical Bank building, adoring the quote, “Abandon all hope ye who enter here”. This quote comes from the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, it was placed right above the gates of Hell in the novel. Bateman sits in a bar and sees a sign that says, “This is not an exit.” Bateman clearly has fallen in his own personal mental inescapable hell. An ending like this on film would’ve provided a metaphorical outlook and deeper perception of the perturbed mind of Patrick Bateman.
Ellis’ novel completely described in detail of what American Psycho would look on film. Every personal account and interaction was beautifully interpreted on screen. American Psycho became a subsequent cult classic after being dubbed as one of the most controversial novels to ever be written, the novel exceeded the boundaries of restriction. A novel that pushed the envelope to a level most writers would never choose to lead and the filmmaker taking the risk of adapting such an overzealous violent depiction of human lunacy. Ellis received many death threats and hate mail after the release of the novel, yet the novel was courageous and truly showed what Ellis believed was the “wrong” behavior. American Psycho accentuated the reaction of the outcry towards violence but in reality there were and will be Patrick Bateman’s like….Ted Bundy.