Warning: Spoilers ahead for the ending of "American Psycho" (both the book and the movie).
"American Psycho" is a controversial novel written by Bret Easton Ellis, first published in 1991. The book was later adapted into a movie released in 2000, directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, the main character.
The ending of "American Psycho" is intentionally ambiguous, leaving readers and viewers with several interpretations and questions about what really happened. The story follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York investment banker who leads a double life as a sadistic serial killer. Throughout the narrative, Bateman descends further into madness, becoming increasingly unreliable as a narrator.
Here's what happens in the ending of both the book and the movie:
In the Book: In the final chapters of the book, Bateman's mental state deteriorates significantly. He becomes increasingly disconnected from reality and begins to doubt whether his violent actions were real or just fantasies. At one point, he confesses to his lawyer about his murders, but the lawyer doesn't take him seriously, assuming it's a joke.
As the novel concludes, Bateman goes on a rampage, killing more people, and engages in a surreal and hallucinatory sequence of events. He finds himself in a chaotic and violent scenario where there's a confrontation with his nemesis, Paul Owen, who is supposed to be dead, and witnesses bizarre occurrences.
The book's conclusion suggests that much of what has happened throughout the story might be a product of Bateman's deranged mind. The ambiguity lies in whether the murders and violence are real or if they are all part of Bateman's psychotic imagination. The novel leaves it open to interpretation whether Bateman truly committed these crimes or if he is merely a psychopath plagued by delusions.
In the Movie: The film adaptation takes a slightly different approach to the ending. It omits some of the more extreme and hallucinatory elements present in the book, making it somewhat less ambiguous.
In the movie, Bateman's murderous actions are depicted more explicitly, and there's less doubt that he has committed violent crimes. However, in the final scene, Bateman meets with his lawyer, Harold Carnes (played by Willem Dafoe), who reveals that he had lunch with Paul Allen (the character Bateman supposedly murdered) in London just a few days ago.
This revelation shocks Bateman and leads him to question his own sanity. The film ends with a close-up of Bateman's face, where he seems to express a mix of relief and confusion, possibly indicating that he might not have committed all the murders he believed he did.
Overall, the ending of "American Psycho" in both the book and the movie challenges the reader's or viewer's perceptions of reality and raises questions about the nature of identity, sanity, and the blurred lines between fantasy and reality. It deliberately leaves the conclusion open to interpretation, inviting discussions and debates about the true nature of Patrick Bat