The article discusses the character Patrick Bateman from Bret Easton Ellis's novel American Psycho, emphasizing his meticulous self-care routine that resembles modern wellness trends. Despite his narcissistic obsession with appearance, Bateman is also a potential serial killer, reflecting deeper societal critiques. The film adaptation by Mary Harron, starring Christian Bale, toned down some graphic content but retained the original's unsettling themes. The juxtaposition of Bateman's superficial lifestyle with underlying violence offers a critique of the era's materialism and moral emptiness, making his character resonate in contemporary discussions.
I believe in taking care of myself, in a balanced diet, in a rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches.
Until the narrator veers off to describing himself as an abstraction of a human being who's not really there, these words would sound at home in any given TikTok or YouTube tutorial about morning skin-care routines.
Bateman is a banker and also maybe a serial killer; the lead character in the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho, he was made flesh 25 years ago by Christian Bale.
American Psycho never feels as if it's been softened, or turned into a more standard-issue horror film, even when the lead character is taking an axe to Jared Leto.
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