American Psycho (2000) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

American Psycho is set in New York City, specifically Manhattan, during the late 1980s. The movie uses the bustling metropolis as a backdrop to showcase the high-end dining, luxury fashion, and opulent lifestyle of its wealthy characters.

• new york city
• manhattan
• setting
• location

The film is set in 1987, a year characterized by economic prosperity in the United States. This specific time period is significant because it captures the peak of 1980s consumerism and excess that the movie critiques.

• 1987
• time period
• 1980s
• era

Patrick Bateman is the protagonist of American Psycho, a wealthy investment banker in 1987 Manhattan who leads a double life as a serial killer. He is characterized by his charm, wealth, and obsessive attention to material possessions, which mask his violent and sadistic impulses.

• patrick bateman
• protagonist
• banker
• killer

American Psycho explores three central themes: materialism, violence, and identity. The film critiques a society consumed by wealth and status, uses violence to expose the duality of human nature, and follows Bateman's crisis of self as he struggles with his fractured identity.

• themes
• materialism
• violence
• identity
• meaning

The film strongly critiques materialism, depicting a world where individuals are defined by their wealth and status. Bateman's obsession with designer clothing and opulent living illustrates the emptiness that accompanies excessive wealth, suggesting that material success masks profound spiritual vacancy.

• materialism
• wealth
• consumerism
• critique

The protagonist's struggle with identity is central to the narrative. Bateman presents a polished, superficial exterior while grappling with inner turmoil and violent impulses. His interactions and outbursts highlight a crisis of self, driven by societal expectations and personal dissatisfaction with his privileged yet empty existence.

• identity
• self
• duality
• character

American Psycho explores violence, both physical and psychological, as Bateman's facade of normalcy masks brutal impulses. The juxtaposition of his mundane corporate lifestyle with horrific acts underscores the duality of human nature and society's indifference to atrocities committed by the privileged.

• violence
• psychology
• duality
• darkness

Donald Kimball is a private detective who investigates Bateman during his unraveling. His presence creates mounting tension and represents the looming threat of exposure as Bateman's violent deeds begin to catch up with him, adding a layer of suspense to the narrative.

• donald kimball
• detective
• investigator

Evelyn is Patrick Bateman's girlfriend in the film. She embodies the vapid, superficial culture of the wealthy elite, often oblivious to Bateman's darker traits and preoccupied with her image and social status, which highlights the film's critique of materialistic values.

• evelyn
• girlfriend
• supporting character

The 1987 New York City setting serves as more than a backdrop, it represents the height of 1980s consumerism and excess. The era's cultural emphasis on wealth, status, and vanity directly informs the characters' behaviors and the film's satirical critique of corporate culture and superficial success.

• 1980s
• new york
• setting influence
• context