With so many movies to choose from, it’s hard to know what to watch. Often we rely on aggregator sites like Rotten Tomatoes, but the lower the rating, the more likely we are to skip the movie unless it’s very low and morbid curiosity takes over. Sometimes it is more difficult, especially when critics and audiences disagree. This is the case with American Psychoa film that I will support whenever the opportunity arises.
I’ll do the same with the Bret Easton Ellis novel on which the film is based, which was heavily criticized at the time for its controversial themes. In my eyes, it’s a classic and a must-see for horror fans in particular, especially as it’s a new release on Netflix in the US from July 2024 (you can already stream it in Australia).
American PsychoThe critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes is just 68%, meaning the film isn’t on our list of the best Netflix movies (although audiences gave it 85%), but it doesn’t have many critics’ reviews either, with only 154 entries at the time of writing. But if Christian Bale as an axe-wielding maniac dancing to Huey Lewis and the News while preparing to murder Jared Leto isn’t enough to convince you that this should be one of the best horror movies, there are plenty more reasons why you should add it to your watchlist.
Why you should watch American Psycho
Bale is joined by an all-star cast including Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux and Reese Witherspoon, so if you like a big cast, this is a brilliant one. It is also directed by the brilliant Mary Harron, which is a win for a female-led horror film.
Speaking of which, it is a little difficult to define exactly which genre American Psycho Many consider it a black comedy, a satirical horror film or a thriller, and I agree with all of them. It is equal parts gory and hilarious and pokes fun at 1980s yuppie culture and consumerism very well, with an investment banker and serial killer as the protagonists.
It’s a truly insane performance from Christian Bale, miles away from what you’re used to seeing from him. Instead of being the masked crusader in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, here he’s unbearable in the best way possible. You’ll hate his character but still won’t want to stop watching, and isn’t a terrible protagonist often the most compelling?
Of course, each of us has our preferences, and American Psycho is not for everyone, but any self-professed film lover should say they have seen it at least once. Whatever you think, this film still sparks debate today.
