- Director: Mary Harron
- Year: 2000
Overview
Patrick Bateman is a wealthy investment banker in New York who lives a double life as a serial killer. He spends his days matching business cards, dining at exclusive spots, and keeping up appearances. He doesn't feel any real connection to his peers, who are just as shallow. At night, his violent urges take over, and he targets coworkers, strangers, and associates. He loses control of his actions, and his crimes get sloppier. He tries to confess his deeds to his lawyer, but nobody believes him because they're too self-absorbed to notice anything outside their own narrow circles.
Takeaways
Bateman's world is so obsessed with status and conformity that everyone looks and acts exactly the same, making them completely interchangeable. The business card competitions and fancy dinners are just ways to show off, but it leaves everyone feeling hollow. Because everyone is so self-absorbed and focused on maintaining their rich lifestyle, they completely ignore Bateman's increasingly bizarre and violent behavior. His confession at the end falls on deaf ears because no one actually pays attention to anyone else. It shows that in a superficial society, people care more about keeping up appearances than facing the dark truth right in front of them.