Patrick bateman the protagonist of american psycho is best described through his own narration. A friend of mine sent me an interesting article about american psycho that makes the case that patrick is a closeted gay man running around giving aids to everyone, the book being either a metaphorical story or just an unreliably told one. American psycho is often regarded as the first truly exceptional horror movie of the 21 st century. Tunnel was a real club which closed in 2001, and did feature an actual tunnel as part of its interior. Rosbury, read, analyzed and have written about easton elliss books. American psycho might have seemed like a straightforward film about. As described by the critic jennifer krause in her intertextual analysis of the novel, which relies on the work of postmodern theorist fredric. My heart broke a little when patrick bateman says this confession has meant nothing. What sounds like a bizarre theory actually seems to have a lot of foundation, and explains some very. American psycho screenwriter on patrick batemans legacy and that controversial ending. This confirms that the book and the movie were supposed to be completely openended. The world of american psycho is not our world, it exists within the novel and although there are similarities between our 1980s and the 1980s of patrick bateman, they are not synonymous. The reader is introduced to the novels narrator, patrick bateman, a 27yearold wall street investment banker. Bateman is a new york investmentbanking executive, and strives to be at the top hanley et al.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Alison kelly of the observer notes that while some countries deem it so potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrinkwrapped, critics rave about it and academics revel in its transgressive and postmodern. Screen prism has put together this really cool and very concise exploration of the ending of american psycho and its implications for either side of the argument surrounding the reality of. Patrick bateman, the novels narrator and main character, epitomizes such ideals in his obsession of external appearances, driven to best his coworkers in almost every trivial aspect. A separate peace quotes war the air, evoked by words like plasma and psycho and sulfa, strange words like that with endings like latin nouns. A big difference in my opinion is that a book lends itself. Patrick bateman first appears briefly in elliss 1987 novel the rules of attraction, in which his brother, sean bateman, is a main character and narrator. He is the quintessential citizen of consumer society who consumes the victims of his insanity. But all those slashers that include topless coeds being dismembered in horrible ways. American psycho is the story of patrick bateman, a rich, arrogant, twentysomething yuppie in 1980s new york, who also happens to be an insane serial killer.
Brave new world great book came out in 1932, 1984 also a great book came out in 1949. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan businessman. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of american psycho by bret easton ellis. American psycho summary from litcharts the creators of. Like the bret easton ellis book that its based on, the ending of mary harrons american psycho is rather ambiguous, and has been a source of debate amongst fans for a long time. In many ways the text of american psycho is one mans ultimate series of selfies. American psycho ii is an unofficial spinoff which is not considered canon. A more dubious undertaking is lions gate films attempt to translate another tale of. American psycho is about the very wealthy, good looking and successful patrick bateman who has a great job on wall street, equally well heeled friends and a hardbody of a girlfriend. It was really about what is going on with men now, in terms of surface narcissism. The novel was published in 1991 by the daring author bret easton ellis and was later adapted into a movie production in 2000 by the director mary harron.
While initially appearing straightforward, the film. The book points out that most of american psycho is mere list making and a lesson in bad writing. Far too often i had to look up a word in the dictionary just to realize that the author chose. Earlier in the novel patrick and his other mergers and acquisitions. The film adaptation of the bret easton ellis novel american psycho was released in 2000, and has been confusing viewers ever since. American psycho 2000 frequently asked questions imdb. Did you mean american psycho is to fight club as brave new world is to 1984. It may seem like one of the cheaper ways to end a story, a cliche finale used so often it practically has a spot on the hollywood walk of fame. Another example is that a novel describes and a film shows things.
The ending of american psycho finally explained looper. Patrick bateman psychological analysis by julien yacek on. Ellis explained that the book was really about the dandification of the american male. How does the movie american psycho differ from the book. My conscience, my pity, my hopes disappeared a long time ago ellis, 406. Look closer at the deeper meaning and messages of american psychos ending. The readers guide is the same but on the opposite end of the spectrum. It is therefore, entirely possible that within this version of reality all of these things happen and for whatever reason they do not have comparable. A male director might have thought patrick bateman, the hero of american psycho, was a serial killer because of psychological twists, but mary harron sees him as a guy whos prey to the usual male drives and compulsions. Analysing american psycho book vs film bret easton ellis controversial postmodern gothic novel and director mary harrons film adaptation, the story of american psycho is set in the wall street boom of the reagan 80s, describing modern consumerism and human aimlessness through the narration of psychopath patrick bateman. Bateman, who relays the action of the novel, as well as his innermost thoughts. Now that american psycho, which is the subject of this months guardian book club, has become an established feature of the literary landscape and is generally acknowledged as a.
Ellis book that its based on, the ending of mary harrons american psycho is rather. What camera, editing and design techniques does the big short use to humanize its characters. This study guide consists of approximately 41 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of american psycho. It is an extremely controversial novel, given its depiction of increasingly brutal violence against women. Look no further than bret easton elliss controversial novel american psycho. Is patrick bateman in american psycho actually a serial killer, or is it in his head. Set in manhattan during the wall street boom of the late 1980s, american psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker patrick. American psycho ending explained by its writers mary harron.
Bret easton ellis is known for featuring his characters across several different novels. Bateman represents the typical image of a high society american, a greedy, selfish and vicious person that will exploit people when given the chance. Abandon all hope ye who enter here is graffitied across the side of a bank in bloodred paint. Shes transformed a novel about blood lust into a movie about mens vanity. Sean also appears briefly in his brothers novel, american psycho. Based on the second novel from bret easton ellis, american psycho is a satirical horror story about the inner life of patrick bateman, a highpaid investment banker in 1980s new york. American psycho begins with the words at the entrance to dantes hell, scrawled in blood red lettering on the side of the chemical bank near the corner of eleventh and first. American psycho, bret easton ellis american psycho is a novel, by bret easton ellis, published in 1991.
Patrick bateman patrick bateman is the main character of the novel and serves as the narrator for the most part as well. He is focused on fitting in and though he has real flesh and blood, he does not feel like a human being hanley et al. This chapter is focused on analysis of violence occurring in the book american psycho, depicting the effect of excruciating torturing images on readers and explaining possible meanings of detailed brutal scenes. Wikipedia states that the author deliberately left the reality of the murders open to interpretation. American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. How to treat patrick bateman how to treat patrick bateman to treat his narcissistic personality disorder it might be best to do group therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. None of the people involved in either the original novel or the film had anything to do with the sequel, and bret easton ellis himself has condemned the film, distancing himself and the makers of american psycho from it and emphasizing that the film is not a part of. In elliss 1998 novel glamorama, both patrick bateman and christian bale the. This is because group therapy would help him relate and listen to others. American psycho, a novel by bret easton ellis, satirizes the apathy, narcissism.
Shocking the reader in american psycho and a clockwork orange. American psycho is a satirical novel written by bret easton ellis and published in 1991. It is only fitting then, that this is the month in which stephen kings novella, apt pupil, will finally be released as a feature film, directed by bryan singer. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of american psycho by bret easton ellis. The book and movie is a commentary on yuppie culture in the 80s. The movie american psycho 2000 features a 27yearold male, patrick bateman, who has an alternative psychopathic ego. A novel and a movie always differ, theyre very different media. American psycho is a novel that makes a statement about modern society. American psycho essays are academic essays for citation. The ending of american psycho explained informer fox. Our interpretation of american psychos finale is far from the only opinion. Didnt really double check the source for this but that is what is stated for the book.
The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan investment banker. Capitalism, violence, and sexuality american psycho by bret easton ellis. Bret easton ellis the author of the book has said that the movie was a satirical look at the yuppie 80s culture, and how shallow and self centred they were and if the murders did not take place there would have been no point to the story. American psychoanalysis the damaging contradictions of author bret easton ellis. Analysis of american psycho and abnormal psychology hubpages. Like the bret easton ellis novel that inspired it, the film leaves open the possibility that patrick bateman didnt really kill all those people. American psycho begins with a quote from dantes inferno. Immediately download the american psycho summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching american psycho. The other two books were released in the order in which you mention them.
Directed by mary harron and starring christian bale in a breakout performance, both american psycho and its main villain patrick. One of the most notorious moments in brett easton ellis american psycho, the business card scene demonstrates the prominence of superficiality and materialism present in modern culture. Thats right american psycho has one of those classic twist endings where most of the action of the movie and the book was a fantasy. American psycho is a 2000 satirical psychological horror film cowritten and directed by mary harron, based on bret easton elliss 1991 novel of the same name. Sure, there are many more explicit horror films today. A book usually doesnt fit into a movie, for example. Analysis of novel and movie production american psycho has been recognized as a brilliant thriller of its time and can legitimately be labeled a scandalous novel.
The ending of american psycho finally explained youtube. Gene reflects on how the war gradually affects his and his classmates lives more and. American psycho by bret easton ellis books the guardian. Which begs the question why is he constantly referred to as a serial killer by editors and. American psycho study guide from litcharts the creators. Psycho is meant to shock you, and it does a pretty good job of it. Earlier in the novel patrick and his other mergers and acquisitions friends go to a club in nyc called tunnel.