“Hey, Paul!” Hollywood blindsides horror fans with the announcement of another retelling of a beloved classic.
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There is an idea of a remake, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real remake: Only the ever-growing pile of processed mediocrity that’s dripping from the blades of the Hollywood meat grinder.
Maybe you can watch these remakes, be slightly entertained, and maybe even feel nostalgic warmth when it catches the essence of the original film, but there is simply nothing there. Of course, that’s only if you count the faint echoes of what was – and what shouldn’t be again.
Lionsgate is apparently in search of a writer to script a modern take on American Psycho, according to insider Jeff Sneider. Based on the 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, this humorously dark story follows the exploits of one Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale).
A wealthy young investment banker making a name for himself in New York City in 1987, Patrick’s three main interests are music, self-care, and murder. He lives his double life of sex, and death without reproach while trying to keep his nighttime activities from spreading into his ‘normal’ daytime life.
The novel was adapted to film in 2000 by director Mary Harron, who co-wrote it with Guinevere Turner and featured a breakout performance by Christian Bale as Bateman.
Along with a solid supporting cast made up of Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Justin Theroux, Reese Witherspoon, and Jared Leto as the ill-fated Paul.
The psychological horror/black comedy polarized critics at first, but became a cult classic when it was released on home video. It also cemented Bateman as an icon among horror fans and gave them some of the best quotable lines of any movie within the genre.
An unrelated sequel, American Psycho 2, was released direct-to-video in 2002 and starred Mila Kunis as the killer. The film was condemned by critics, fans, Bret Easton Ellis, and even its star Kunis.
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Fortunately, that didn’t result in an American Psycho 3. In 2013, a stage musical of the one, true American Psycho premiered in London’s Almeida Theatre after a successful Kickstarter campaign by Ellis.
At the helm was director, Rupert Goold, and it starred Matt Smith of Doctor Who fame. He was eventually re-casted and the production only went on for 54 more performances before ending in 2016.
A comic book sequel released in 2023 by Sumerian Comics would carry the torch into the 2020s. There have been talks beyond that of the tale becoming a television series, but that has remained in developmental hell for years.
One can only hope the same for this movie… Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to return some video tapes.