Analysis Of Patrick Bateman In American Psycho

As Patrick Bateman said “I feel lethal. On the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.” Throughout the film American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron, there is a never-ending presence of discomfort. With each scene that plays out, the viewer gets to travel down deeper into the mind of a very disturbed individual. When putting Patrick Bateman through the lenses of psychology, it is evident that he suffers from narcissism and shows evidence of being schizophrenic. Ultimately when Bateman does not get what he wants, does he begin to break down all the walls he constructed to keep his insanity at bay. Mary Harron expertly exposes to the viewer how Bateman thinks and comes to question the validity of his narration using imagery, symbolism, and cinematography. …show more content…
For example, in the scene where he is having sex with the two prostitutes, the camera pans behind Bateman’s shoulder showing him looking right at the mirror; flexing his biceps. He clearly is not getting any sexual satisfaction from the intercourse, but from the notion that he is so handsome and is in bed with two beautiful women. In Bateman’s eyes, these women mean nothing to him; they only live to serve his needs. In the scene where Batmen and his fiancé were driving down to dinner, as she was talking about her fantasies of their wedding together, Bateman sat there with his cold gaze; listening to Phil Collins. This scene indicates that Bateman has no virtual opinions of the outside world but merely is observing the way people act; he is trying to “fit in” but only when he is above his