It’s hard to believe, but even though American Psycho was one of the greatest psychological horror movies of the past quarter century, its critical reception doesn’t reflect this. With a career-defining performance from Christian Bale as the serial killer yuppie Patrick Bateman, this adaptation of the infamous novel by Bret Easton Ellis was truly one of the most unique movies of the early 2000s. From the way it dismantled the all-consuming nature of consumer culture to its grim representation of grisly murders, American Psycho was a cult classic that reflected the darkest aspects of society back onto itself.
Despite being one of Bale’s very best movies, American Psycho only has a 68% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, although audiences have been much kinder to the movie with an impressive 85%. As the story of a self-obsessed New York investment banker who leads a secret double life as a serial killer, director Mary Harron managed to turn a novel that was previously thought of as unfilmable into one of the most effective satires Hollywood has ever seen. While some critics dismissed American Psycho at the time, it’s remembered today as a modern classic.
Why American Psycho’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Low
The Excessive Violence Of American Psycho Was Too Much For Some Critics
Both the novel and film of American Psycho were incredibly controversial upon release, as they embraced over-the-top violence and did not shy away from dark topics of murder, misogyny, and moral decay. While nobody could deny the power of Christian Bale’s chilling performance as Bateman, some critics took the materialism, narcissism, and greed at the heart of its story the wrong way and failed to see American Psycho for the thought-provoking satire that it was.
Truly polarizing films will always have lower critics’ scores on Rotten Tomatoes because their divisive nature will mean those who dislike the movie will be extra harsh in their critique. As a film that was never meant to be a crowd-pleaser, the twisted sensibilities of Easton’s original characters, Harron’s direction, and Bale’s performance meant it was easy to misunderstand the film. However, in the years since its release, American Psycho’s reputation has only grown, and its absurdist critique of consumerism, toxic masculinity, and idenтιтy has come to be appreciated for what it is.
American Psycho Is So Much Better Than Its Rotten Tomatoes Score Suggests
Christian Bale Delivered One Of His Greatest Performances As Bateman
The biggest contributor to American Psycho’s lackluster Rotten Tomatoes score was that critics mistook its exaggerated tone as a glorification of violence rather than a critique of it. As a surreal glimpse into the soulless world of corporate greed, Bale represented a man who was totally bereft of his humanity and the only things he could take joy from were consumerism and acts of violence. As an uncomfortable character study that refused to spoon-feed audiences its meaning, American Psycho challenges viewers to confront the evil inherent in the capitalist system and examine how it strips us of our empathy.
The success of American Psycho led to a universally panned direct-to-video sequel called American Psycho 2, starring Mila Kunis and William Shatner, that had very little relation to the original film. It’s also been revealed that director Luca Guadagnino is connected to a new adaptation of Ellis’s novel that is currently in the works.
American Psycho was a smart thriller that was far more impactful than its score implies. With a strong script, great performances, and a message that’s only become more relevant in the years since its release, viewers who haven’t yet seen it should do themselves a favor and check out this incredible cult classic from the early 2000s. Perhaps critics at the time just weren’t prepared to accept just how well Bale’s terrifying performance represented the soulless nature of modern corporate America and how disturbingly close it got to the truth behind the aspirational veneer of wealth, status, and power.
