American Psycho

Details

Set against the grotesque excess of late-1980s Wall Street, Patrick Bateman is a young investment banker who appears to have everything: money, status, designer suits and a skincare routine that would shame a cosmetics counter. By day he competes with his colleagues over restaurant reservations and business card typography. By night. well, that's where things become considerably less corporate.

Bateman moves effortlessly through a world obsessed with appearances. Nobody listens to anybody, everybody confuses each other's names and the shallow conversations about music, fashion and status mask an almost complete absence of humanity. Beneath Bateman's perfectly groomed exterior lies something deeply rotten. His violent urges erupt in increasingly brutal fashion - tramps, prostitutes and even co-workers fall victim - all delivered with a chilling calmness that makes the violence feel even more disturbing.

Yet the genius of the film lies in its ambiguity. As Bateman's grip on reality loosens, you begin to question whether the murders are real or simply the fevered fantasies of a man drowning in narcissism and isolation. Is he a monster hiding in plain sight, or just another hollow yuppie desperate to feel something in a world where nothing means anything? The film never hands you a neat answer - and that's exactly the point.

And then there are the music monologues. Bateman's enthusiastic breakdowns of Huey Lewis and the News or Phil Collins, delivered moments before acts of horrific violence, are both hilarious and deeply unsettling. It's satire so sharp it could probably be classified as a weapon.

Picture & Sound

The picture quality is excellent. The transfer boasts strong colour tones and impressive detail, particularly in the pristine white interiors of Bateman's apartment and the sleek, polished restaurant scenes. Darker sequences retain clarity and shadow detail, and the above-average bit-rate ensures there are no signs of artefacting or outlining. It's a clean and confident transfer that suits the film's glossy aesthetic perfectly.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack performs admirably. While largely dialogue-driven, the surround channels are used effectively for ambient nightclub atmospheres and the film's excellent 80s soundtrack. The music selection is superb and the disc handles it beautifully. Dialogue remains crisp and centred throughout, and although the LFE channel isn't heavily exercised, it's not really required for a film that relies more on tension than explosions.

Menu & Extras

The extras are a solid package. The deleted scenes and cast interviews add welcome insight, and the brief but enjoyable "Killer Looks" featurette is a nice inclusion - even if it's strangely absent from the packaging details. Interestingly, this Region 2 edition arguably edges out the Region 1 disc in terms of supplementary content. A pleasant surprise.

Overall

Christian Bale's performance is nothing short of astonishing. He delivers a performance that is simultaneously darkly comic, deeply disturbing and oddly mesmerising. No wonder he was the perfect fit for Batman. If awards bodies were less squeamish about violence, you suspect his mantelpiece might be a little more crowded.

American Psycho is violent, stylish, satirical and deliberately uncomfortable. It's not an easy watch, nor is it meant to be. Beneath the blood and designer labels lies a savage critique of consumerism and empty ambition. If you want a thriller that challenges as much as it shocks - and one that leaves you debating what you've just witnessed long after the credits roll - this disc comes highly recommended.

Special features

• Deleted Scenes
• Cast and Crew Interviews
• "Killer Looks" Featurette
• Theatrical Trailer