American Psycho
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to American Psycho
American Psycho (2000) is a satirical horror film based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name. It follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and narcissistic investment banker in 1980s New York City, who lives a double life as a serial killer. The movie delves into themes of consumerism, materialism, and identity, portraying Bateman's meticulous daily routines and his escalating violent fantasies and acts. The film is known for its graphic content, including extreme violence and explicit sexual scenes, presented with a dark comedic tone. It is intended for a mature audience due to its disturbing themes and explicit nature.
Things to Consider
Violence
The film depicts extreme and graphic violence, including brutal murders, dismemberment, and torture with explicit blood and gore. Patrick Bateman engages in homicidal fantasies and acts, often using weapons like an ax, chainsaw, and handgun.
Movieguide details 'extreme graphic violence shown including man swings ax into other man's body, images of blood spurting, man stabs homeless man to death, man stabs woman to death under bedsheets, man covered in blood runs down hall while carrying chainsaw, man drops chainsaw onto woman running down stairs, several handgun murders including gunfight with cops, cop car explodes, & many images of blood-covered corpses'. Christian Spotlight notes Bateman kills 'many victims, including prostitutes and homeless people, just for amusement (several killings graphically shown, others implied)'. Quora states it's about a 'serial killer who kills homeless people and tortures prostitutes (and also sometimes eats people too)'.
Romance and Sexual Content
The movie contains strong and excessive scenes of depicted sex, explicit male and female nudity, implied sexual activity, and themes of prostitution and sadomasochism. The film was initially rated NC-17 due to a scene depicting anal sex with two prostitutes, which was subsequently cut.
Profanity
The film features frequent and extreme use of profanity, including numerous strong obscenities and mild profanities.
Scary & Intense Content
The film contains highly scary and intense content, including graphic violence, homicidal fantasies, and disturbing imagery related to murder, torture, and cannibalism.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Patrick Bateman displays extreme disrespect and anti-social behavior, including public beratement of his fiancée, numerous anti-female and racist remarks, and murderous rages against coworkers over trivial matters.
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LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The film includes brief, strong images of homosexual acts between women and a male character, Luis Carruthers, makes a homosexual pass at Patrick Bateman, which disgusts Bateman. Bateman also shows a homophobic streak. Some interpretations by the film's creators and critics suggest a queer subtext or a 'gay man's satire on masculinity.'
Substance Use
The movie depicts significant substance use, including characters consuming alcohol to the point of drunkenness, smoking, snorting cocaine, and popping pills.
Anti-Christian Themes
The movie presents a 'Humanistic, politically-correct feminist worldview' that argues capitalism breeds psychopathic sexists, which conflicts with a Christian worldview that attributes evil to sin against God. While not explicitly mocking Christian beliefs, the film's underlying worldview and themes can be seen as implicitly anti-Christian by omitting the concept of sin and redemption.
Witchcraft & Occult
There is no evidence in the provided sources to suggest the presence of witchcraft or occult themes in the movie.
From a Christian worldview, "American Psycho" presents a bleak and humanistic perspective that stands in stark contradiction to biblical values. The core themes revolve around extreme materialism, narcissism, moral decay, and unbridled sin, with no discernible acknowledgment of God or moral accountability. Patrick Bateman's actions are driven by depravity and a complete absence of conscience, highlighting a world where vice is not only unpunished but often unacknowledged by those around him, reflecting a profound moral relativism. The film portrays a society engrossed in superficiality, where human life holds little value, a direct affront to the sanctity of life emphasized in Scripture. There are no redemption themes present; instead, the narrative plunges deeper into the protagonist's psychosis and the societal indifference that enables it. The film offers no elements of sacrifice, forgiveness, or grace, reinforcing a hopeless and nihilistic view of humanity. Family values are absent or distorted, with relationships depicted as superficial and exploitative. Faith is not represented positively or even significantly within the narrative; instead, the focus is on a godless existence where self-gratification and external appearance are the ultimate idols. The movie effectively serves as a cautionary tale of a world devoid of spiritual truth, where humanity's darkest impulses are allowed to flourish unchecked by any transcendent moral framework.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
Not recommended for children, teenagers, or young adults due to extreme graphic violence, explicit sexual content including nudity and sexual violence, pervasive strong profanity, and significant substance abuse. The film was initially rated NC-17 and then cut to achieve an R-rating.
Good to Know
The film is a satire, and its extreme content is often intended to critique materialism and consumerism. However, the graphic nature of the violence and sexual content remains disturbing regardless of its satirical intent. Viewers should be aware that the film's content has been described as abhorrent and is not suitable for sensitive audiences.
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