Considered as one of the greatest movie of all time, American Psycho till today have left several viewers debating what is true and what is not.
The ending of the movie leaned towards everything being hallucinated by Patrick especially after the death of Paul Allen. The question then is, was Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) truly an American psycho? Or were all the crimes he had committed in his head? Continue reading to find out!
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Was Partrick Bateman Truly A Psycho?
The answer is yes. In the movie Patrick partook in heinous acts of murdering people he deemed unworthy of existence. He killed not only his colleague but a homeless man, a dog, a supposed girlfriend, and sex workers.
As his thirst for blood increased, his perception of reality began to reduce causing him to have hallucinations of himself committing murder.
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Did Partrick Really Kill Paul Allen?
Once again the answer is yes. Patrick killed Paul Allen (Jared Leto) out of jealousy and rage.
After Patrick kills Paul Allen in his apartment, he goes to Paul's apartment, and leaves a voicemail posing as Paul to make it seem he went to London. This was supposed to be way to cover his trail in case the police begins an investigation about Paul’s death. However, at the end of the film, when Patrick's guilt begins to overflow, he reveals the truth to his lawyer. But surprisingly his lawyer doesn't believe him because he claims he saw Paul Allen visibly in London.
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If Paul Allen Is Dead Who Did Partick Lawyer See?
This question has left many film viewers puzzled. Did Patrick really kill anyone – specifically, did he kill Paul Allen?
Like I said earlier, Patrick really did kill Paul. However, in the movie, there were recurring mistakes where Patrick and the other yuppies (a young person at a high-ranking job with good fashion style) are mistaken for each other because they all dress and act the same.
Wearing the same suits, eyeglass wear, similar haircuts, and the same meager and expressive attitudes into wanting to live a languish lifestyle eating at fancy restaurants. So much so, Patrick managed an alibi when the real Marcus Halberstram (Anthony Lemke) had mistaken that he had dinner with him at the same time Paul Allen went missing. Even Paul's planning calendar said he went to lunch with Marcus, but in reality, he went with Patrick.
Hence it is true that the lawyer saw Paul Allen but not the real Paul but a look alike which the lawyer had mistaken for Paul Allen.
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What Does The Ending Of American Pyscho Imply?
The director and writer Harron has clarified that the ending is not meant to imply that the events of the movie all occurred in Patrick Bateman's head as some have theorized. Instead, she and co-writer Guinevere Turner have essentially confirmed that Bateman is a serial killer, but he simply won't be prosecuted in any way for his actions.
The closing monologue of Patrick Bateman after his failed confession back this point up when says; There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape, but even after admitting this, there is no catharsis. My punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself. No new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing.
Judging from the monologue given by Patrick at the end of the movie, the writers wanted to show that in the world where they were living in, all that mattered was sex, money and getting a seat at Dorsia.
The end also showed that Partick lost his purpose and will to commit murder. The purpose of his kills in American Psycho was because he liked it, and he knew it was morally wrong. But since no one cared, his murders were meaningless. Thus, he's at a loss of purpose for his life.
Overall, there are many different interpretations of how the film ended. Patrick was an unreliable narrator for the entire movie, so it's difficult to discern what was actually happening and what was conjured in his head.
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