Based on Brett Easton Ellis' controversial and satirical novel this stars Christian Bale as a wannabe "hipster" stock broker in the decadent 80's who puts on a normal face only to be quite the mental case who enjoys slashing up prostitutes and various other women while expounding on the "greatness" of the music of Huey Lewis & The News (a satirical jab that's actually pretty damn funny).

Sarcastic, darkly humoured and sort of mundane this suspense/horror/comedy has a decent lead in Bale but really didn't deserve all the controversy it garnered while filming because it's a misfire due to trying too hard to capture the books meaning.

Cynically funny at times (like when they compare business cards) and with an almost perfect "find the bodies and get killed by a chainsaw in a stairwell" scene; this is still a disappointment with a particularly weak and vague finale.

Review based on unrated version.

Followed by a sequel.

Directed By: Mary Harron.
Written By: Mary Harron, Guinever Turner.

Starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas.