Christian Bale recently recalled being threatened for taking the lead role in American Psycho. Beginning his long acting career as a child, a 12-year-old Bale made waves with his breakout role as Jamie Graham in Steven Spielberg's World War II epic Empire of the Sun. The success of the film propelled his career forward with roles in Newsies, Swing Kids, and Little Women. However, it was his controversial role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho that cemented his status as a star.
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Released in 2000, the Mary Harron-directed psychological thriller is based on the popular Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name. The film is centered on Bateman, a restless New York City investment banker who leads a separate life as a crazed serial killer. Blending gruesome horror with black comedy, American Psycho received mixed reviews upon its release, although it has since developed a strong cult following. However, Bale was singled out and praised for his compelling and frightening performance as the titular character. Rounding out American Psycho's acclaimed cast are Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Chloë Sevigny, and writer-director Justin Theroux.
While speaking to GQ about his most iconic film roles over the years, Bale recalled being threatened for his role in American Psycho. The actor admitted that there were people who actively rejected the film explaining that one of his friends encountered someone who told them that they wanted to physically hurt the actor because of the movie. Read what Bale said below:
I remember somebody threatening me on the street, 'cause some people did object to the film getting made and all that. And I remember people saying that they were gonna do me harm and stuff like that… Somebody warned me, it must've been a friend of mine, it was crazy early on the internet, and they called me up and they went, "There's some person and they know where you walk every single day, and you go down this back alley, and they say that they're gonna jump on you and they're gonna rip your cerebral cortex out of your head. So please don't go down that alley." So of course, I was like, "I'm going to that alley. I want to see what happens." Fortunate enough, I kept walking up and down it going, "Where are they? Come on." [Laughs]
Why American Psycho Was So Controversial
Due to the strong violent content of American Psycho, an emotional reaction is expected. Luckily for the actor, the threat he faced was an empty one as Bale was never physically accosted over the film, although he seemingly sought a confrontation with the individual. Despite its controversial nature, American Psycho continues to be respected as one of the best films Bale has ever done in his long Hollywood career.
A scathing dissection of 1980s materialism and narcissism, American Psycho challenged viewers with its bold depictions of sex and violence. The callousness of Bateman's actions coupled with the fact that his privilege allows him to commit his suspected crimes without impunity bestows an unsatisfactory feeling on the audience at the film's conclusion. The movie served as a biting critique of American culture of the 80s but also held a mirror to the public at the birth of the 21st century. Although many critics latched onto the grotesque when the film was initially reviewed, American Psycho has since become a must-watch for any fan of Bale and psychological horrors.