American psychopathic cinema criticizes idolatry to Patrick Bateman: ‘It is a gay satire about masculinity’

The director Mary Harronresponsible for American psychopath (2000), commented the 25th anniversary of the film in an interview with Letterboxd Journal and claimed to be confused by the worship that the character Patrick Batemaninterpreted by Christian Balestill awakens in some men – especially in financial market figures.

“I am always very intrigued by it. Neither I nor [a roteirista] Guinevere Turner, we never imagined that the movie would be embraced by Wall Street faces. It was not our intention. So we failed? ”

According to Harron, Bateman was conceived as a target of criticism and satire, not as a model to be admired. “Christian is clearly mocking this kind of man”he said. “But people interpret things distorted. Some read the Bible and think they should go out. The casualty in the rye field and decide to shoot the president. ”

“It’s a satire made by a gay man”

The director pointed out that the original book, from Bret Easton Ellisopenly gay author, brings a critical view of competitive male rituals:

“The fact that Bret is gay has allowed him to see homoerotic rituals among these alpha males – something that exists in sport, in Wall Street and everywhere men compete with each other and worship their virility. There’s something very, very gay in the way they fetishize appearance and academy.”

Harron also commented on the influence of social networks, such as Tiktok, in the distortion of the original message: “People see a beautiful man with expensive suits and power, and stop there. But Bateman is ridiculous. The scene where he tries to talk about hip hop in a nightclub is embarrassing.”

For her, the film is a critique of a predatory society – and the situation today, according to the director, would be even worse. “The rich are much richer, the poor poor. And now they openly celebrate racism and white supremacy. I never imagined living it.”

New production movie

A new adaptation of the book is under development directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call me by your name, Challengers) and script of Scott Z. Burns. Austin Butler It is quoted to play Patrick Bateman, but the cast has not yet been officially confirmed.