I’d be curious to know what you think of the film adaptation of American Psycho if you watch it. Consensus seems to be that it’s superior to the book, but I feel like it stylizes the violence in a way that undercuts how horrible it’s supposed to feel. Movie Patrick is silly, almost pitiable, never genuinely menacing. In contrast, I found the book deeply upsetting, which I think is how it *should* feel to read about such wanton violence and cruelty. It pierced the desensitization I think we all carry from watching fictional, sanitized depictions of violence, which I think is a notable accomplishment.
I totally agree! Although the script uses so much of the actual dialogue from the book, Bale's Bateman feels much more tame - I think silly is definitely the right word. Book Bateman is genuinely horrific. I think part of it is that being in his head in the book makes the cruelty so much more poignant and horrifying, plus the book's descriptions of torture are actually gut wrenching. I had to take a break from reading at a couple of points because I felt genuinely nauseous (high praise to Bret Easton Ellis)
I just finished The Story of a New Name and have been so itching to see what people say about these books. They are such an experience!! I will be keeping an eye out for your piece on this series!
I’d be curious to know what you think of the film adaptation of American Psycho if you watch it. Consensus seems to be that it’s superior to the book, but I feel like it stylizes the violence in a way that undercuts how horrible it’s supposed to feel. Movie Patrick is silly, almost pitiable, never genuinely menacing. In contrast, I found the book deeply upsetting, which I think is how it *should* feel to read about such wanton violence and cruelty. It pierced the desensitization I think we all carry from watching fictional, sanitized depictions of violence, which I think is a notable accomplishment.
I totally agree! Although the script uses so much of the actual dialogue from the book, Bale's Bateman feels much more tame - I think silly is definitely the right word. Book Bateman is genuinely horrific. I think part of it is that being in his head in the book makes the cruelty so much more poignant and horrifying, plus the book's descriptions of torture are actually gut wrenching. I had to take a break from reading at a couple of points because I felt genuinely nauseous (high praise to Bret Easton Ellis)
I just finished The Story of a New Name and have been so itching to see what people say about these books. They are such an experience!! I will be keeping an eye out for your piece on this series!