American Psycho Book Review: A Disturbing Masterpiece That Still Haunts Me

Posted by Tara Long | Last updated: November 28, 2024

Okay, folks, grab your raincoats and business cards because we’re venturing deep into the twisted world of one Mister Patrick Bateman. I’ve been putting off writing this review for months because, honestly, how do you even begin to unpack Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho”? But here I am, sitting in my cramped apartment at 3 AM, fueled by way too much coffee (judge me all you want), finally ready to share my thoughts on this controversial masterpiece.

My History with American Psycho

I first encountered “American Psycho” when I was probably too young to be reading it – I was 19 and thought I knew everything about horror literature because I’d devoured roughly half of Stephen King‘s entire bibliography. Oh, sweet summer child. Nothing could have prepared me for what lurked within those pages.

Twenty years and countless re-reads later, this book still makes me question everything I know about horror literature, society, and my own tolerance for the extreme. Like that one weird aunt at family gatherings who makes everyone uncomfortable but speaks nothing but truths, “American Psycho” refuses to let you look away from its horrible, glittering surface.

The Plot (Or Whatever Passes for One)

For those who’ve somehow managed to avoid both the book and the Christian Bale movie (seriously, how?), “American Psycho” follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy Wall Street investment banker in 1980s Manhattan. By day, he’s obsessed with status symbols, restaurant reservations, and proper skincare routines. By night, well… let’s just say his hobbies aren’t exactly Pinterest-worthy unless you’re running a true crime board.

But here’s the thing – trying to summarize the plot of “American Psycho” is like trying to explain why you have 47 houseplants to your therapist. It’s not really about the what; it’s about the why and the how.

Having said that, I’ll try my best to provide at least a somewhat coherent synopsis:

Warning! Spoilers lie ahead.

Ok, so our main character Patrick Bateman lives in the American Gardens Building on West 81st Street, in an apartment that probably costs more than my entire lifetime earnings. His life revolves around maintaining appearances – designer suits, rigorous exercise routines, scoring reservations at the trendiest restaurants, and meticulously crafted skincare regimens that would make any dermatologist’s head spin.

The Daily Grind of a Psychopath

What makes this book so uniquely disturbing is how it meshes the mundane with the monstrous. One minute, Bateman is obsessing over the subtle off-white coloring of a colleague’s business card (a scene that still gives me anxiety attacks when I have to order new business cards), and the next, he’s… well, doing things that would make Hannibal Lecter squeamish.

His days follow a pattern that would be mind-numbingly boring if it weren’t punctuated by acts of extreme violence: wake up, exercise, meticulously groom, go to work (where he mostly watches porn and makes lunch reservations), drink at the latest hot spots with interchangeable colleagues who constantly mistake each other for other people (a running joke that becomes increasingly significant), and then… the night activities begin.

The Supporting Cast

The book is populated with a roster of equally vapid characters who orbit around Bateman. There’s Timothy Price, his best friend and colleague (though “best friend” in this world means someone you secretly loathe but maintain appearances with). Evelyn Richards, his girlfriend, who’s as obsessed with marriage as Bateman is with murders. Jean, his secretary, who harbors genuine feelings for him (honey, no). And let’s not forget Paul Owen, who has that coveted Fisher account Bateman covets – and who eventually disappears under mysterious circumstances.

The Descent into Madness

As the story progresses, Bateman’s grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous. His violent episodes escalate from random homeless people to prostitutes, colleagues, and random acquaintances. The violence becomes more elaborate, more grotesque, and possibly more imaginary.

The brilliance of Ellis’s narrative is how it keeps you guessing. Bateman will describe a horrific murder in the same tone he uses to review a Genesis album (and oh boy, those music reviews – I never thought I’d learn so much about Huey Lewis and the News). The line between reality and fantasy blurs to the point where even Bateman seems unsure what’s real.

The Unraveling

Things start really spinning out of control after Paul Owen’s disappearance. Bateman becomes increasingly paranoid, and his narrative becomes more unreliable. He confesses his murders to his lawyer over dinner, only to later learn that his lawyer thinks it’s a joke – and claims to have had dinner with Paul Owen in London recently.

The body count rises, including a bizarre chase scene through Manhattan that feels like an action movie fever dream, complete with exploding police cars and impossible scenarios. Yet, when Bateman returns to Paul Owen’s apartment, where he left several rotting corpses, he finds it pristinely clean and up for sale. His confession to his lawyer is dismissed as a joke, and no one seems to notice or care about his increasingly erratic behavior.

The Infamous Ending

The novel’s conclusion is deliberately ambiguous (which drove me crazy during my first reading – I threw the book across the room, not gonna lie). We’re left wondering: Did any of these murders actually happen? Is Bateman living in a society so superficial and self-absorbed that even brutal murders go unnoticed? Or is he simply a psychotic fantasist living out his violent delusions while maintaining his yuppie facade?

The book ends with Bateman at another restaurant, with another group of interchangeable colleagues, staring at a sign that reads “THIS IS NOT AN EXIT.” It’s perhaps the perfect metaphor for his existence – there’s no escape from either his psychosis or the superficial world he inhabits.

The Question of Reality

Here’s what makes this plot so brilliant and infuriating: every single event can be interpreted in multiple ways. The murders could be real, with the lack of consequences highlighting the profound disconnection of this social circle. Or they could be entirely in Bateman’s head, making this a study of mental disintegration. Or (my personal favorite theory after reading it for the fifth time) it could be a mix of both – some real, some imagined, with the reader left permanently uncertain about which is which.

The genius of Ellis’s plot structure is that it reflects the very themes it explores – identity, reality, and truth become as interchangeable as the characters themselves. Just like Bateman’s world, where no one can tell each other apart and restaurants are impossible to get into except when they’re mysteriously empty, nothing is quite what it seems, and everything is simultaneously superficial and profound.

Trust me, this plot will stick with you long after you’ve finished the book. I still catch myself thinking about certain scenes years later, usually at 3 AM when I should be sleeping. It’s like that one weird dream you had years ago that still pops into your head at random moments – except this one was crafted deliberately to mess with your mind.

The Writing Style That Broke My Brain

Ellis’s writing style in this book is nothing short of genius, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise (not really, I’m actually quite conflict-avoidant). The prose switches between mind-numbingly detailed descriptions of designer clothing and music reviews to passages of such extreme violence that I had to put the book down and watch puppy shorts on YouTube to cleanse my soul.

Those Infamous Product Lists

Let’s talk about those endless product lists and brand name-dropping. At first, they seem excessive and pretentious – because they are. But that’s exactly the point. Ellis creates a world where surface appearances aren’t just important; they’re everything. Reading through Bateman’s morning routine for the first time made me seriously reconsider my “splash some water on my face and hope for the best” approach to skincare.

The Social Commentary That Hits Too Close to Home

What terrifies me most about “American Psycho” isn’t the violence (though holy guacamole, is it disturbing). It’s how relevant the book’s critique of consumer culture and toxic masculinity remains today. Replace the Walkman with AirPods and the business cards with LinkedIn profiles, and you’ve got a perfect snapshot of our current obsession with status and appearance.

The 80s Wall Street Setting

The 1980s Wall Street setting might seem dated, but anyone who’s spent five minutes on Instagram knows we’re still living in Bateman’s world. The constant need to one-up each other, the obsession with exclusive restaurants and designer labels – it’s all just moved from Manhattan conference rooms to social media feeds.

The Violence: Let’s Talk About It

Content Warning: This section discusses graphic content

I’ve been reviewing horror books for over a decade, and nothing – I mean nothing – comes close to the level of violence in “American Psycho.” What makes it so disturbing isn’t just the graphic nature of the acts themselves, but how they’re presented in the same detached, meticulous tone Bateman uses to describe his skin exfoliation routine.

The Unreliable Narrator Question

Here’s where things get really interesting (and where I usually end up in heated debates with other horror fans at 2 AM). Is Bateman really committing these acts, or is it all in his head? The beauty of Ellis’s writing is that both readings are equally disturbing. Either Bateman is a murderous psychopath, or he’s so disconnected from reality that he’s created elaborate fantasies of violence – and honestly, I’m not sure which is scarier.

The Most Disturbing Scenes: A Trigger Warning-Heavy Breakdown

Not for the faint of heart—seriously, proceed with caution. Also, there are some mild spoilers.

1. Murder of a Homeless Man and His Dog: One of the early violent acts in the novel involves Bateman brutally attacking a homeless man named Al. He stabs Al repeatedly in the stomach and gouges his eyes before killing his dog. This scene is particularly disturbing due to its senseless cruelty and the vulnerability of the victims.
2. Paul Owen’s Murder: Bateman’s murder of his colleague, Paul Owen, is one of the pivotal moments in the novel. He lures Owen to his apartment and kills him with an axe. The scene is marked by its suddenness and the casual manner in which Bateman disposes of the body, highlighting his detachment from reality.
3. Torture of Sex Workers: Bateman’s interactions with sex workers are among the most graphic in the novel. He hires two women, Christie and Sabrina, whom he later tortures brutally after a sexual encounter. The violence escalates to a point where one of them requires surgery due to the extent of her injuries.
4. Murder of a Child at the Zoo: Bateman’s violence reaches an unsettling peak when he murders a five-year-old child at a zoo by stabbing him in the neck. This act underscores Bateman’s complete moral depravity and further alienates him from any semblance of humanity.
5. Cannibalism and Necrophilia: The novel hints at Bateman engaging in acts of cannibalism and necrophilia, adding another layer of horror to his character. These acts are described in disturbing detail, contributing to the book’s reputation for pushing boundaries.

In a nutshell? Yikes!

Why This Book Matters (Even Though It Makes Us Uncomfortable)

In an era of carefully curated social media personas and “personal branding,” “American Psycho” feels more relevant than ever. It’s a mirror held up to our society’s worst tendencies, wrapped in a designer suit and spattered with blood.

The Impact on Modern Horror

As someone who devours horror literature like it’s Halloween candy, I can trace “American Psycho’s” DNA through countless modern works. The blend of social commentary with extreme horror has influenced everything from “Gone Girl” to “My Sister, the Serial Killer.”

Reading Tips (From Someone Who’s Still Traumatized)

If you’re planning to tackle “American Psycho” for the first time, here are some tips from your friendly neighborhood horror blogger:

1. Take breaks. Seriously. This isn’t a book to binge-read.
2. Keep something light and fluffy nearby as a palate cleanser.
3. Don’t read it while eating (trust me on this one).
4. Be prepared for people to judge you when they see what you’re reading.
5. Remember that it’s okay to skip certain passages if they become too intense.

The Cultural Impact and Legacy

It’s wild to think about how this book, which caused such an uproar when it was published in 1991, has become such a significant part of our cultural landscape. The film adaptation with Christian Bale introduced Bateman to an even wider audience, and now you can’t scroll through social media without seeing memes about business cards or “returning videotapes.”

From Controversy to Classic

When “American Psycho” was first published, it was met with outrage and boycotts. Now it’s taught in universities and considered a modern classic. As someone who’s watched horror literature evolve over the years, this transformation fascinates me. It’s like watching that weird kid from high school become a successful CEO – surprising but somehow fitting.

My Personal Relationship with the Book

Every time I re-read “American Psycho,” I notice something new. Sometimes it’s a subtle joke I missed before, sometimes it’s a deeper layer of meaning, and sometimes it’s just me wondering if I should finally invest in better face wash (thanks, Patrick).

The Evolution of My Understanding

My first reading was all shock and horror. My second was about understanding the satire. Now, with each subsequent reading, I find myself more interested in the small details – the inconsistencies in Bateman’s narrative, the way other characters interact with him, the brilliant way Ellis structures the novel.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should (Maybe) Read This Book

“American Psycho” isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. It’s like cilantro or reality TV – some people love it, others think it’s the worst thing ever created. But if you’re interested in exploring the darker sides of human nature and society, and you can stomach the extreme content, it’s an incredible piece of literature.

Who Should Read It:

• Horror fans looking for something beyond supernatural scares
• Readers interested in social satire
• Anyone fascinated by unreliable narrators
• People who want to understand why this book is so influential

Who Should Skip It:

• Sensitive readers
• Anyone triggered by graphic violence
• People looking for a straightforward narrative
• Those who prefer their horror supernatural rather than psychological

Wrapping-Up

Twenty years after my first reading, “American Psycho” remains one of the most challenging, disturbing, and brilliant books I’ve ever encountered. It’s like that one experimental indie film that leaves you questioning everything – you might not enjoy the experience, but you can’t deny its impact.

Do I recommend it? Yes, but with more trigger warnings than a Twitter thread about controversial opinions. Is it an important book? Absolutely. Will it haunt you? Without a doubt. But sometimes the most valuable reading experiences are the ones that make us uncomfortable.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return some videotapes and reconsider my entire skincare routine.

What are your thoughts on “American Psycho”? Have you read it? Are you planning to? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to LOD’s newsletter for more horror book reviews and discussions!