Brett Easton Ellis' novel American Psycho was published in 1991 and set in 1980s New York City. Mary Harron's film adaptation of the book starring Christian Bale was released in 2000 and still followed yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman in 1980s Manhattan. As the film celebrates its 15th anniversary, I wondered what American Psycho would look like if it took place in 2015. Of course, a lot about the movie still rings true — New York is still a status-obsessed place and getting a reservation at Dorsia is still probably impossible.
But a lot has also changed since the 80s and 2000s, when the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. After the 2008 financial crisis, big financial firms aren't as stable as they used to be, so I'd imagine a modern Patrick Bateman (played by Michael Fassbender) would be a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and would end up with a job a start-up with a cutesy logo and name (let's just simply call it commPlex). He'd still be all about hair, skin, and suits that were very on fleek, but he wouldn't be living in Manhattan — he'd be all about Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He'd have a spoiled, trustafarian fiance (played by Emma Stone) who he mostly ignores while trolling Tinder for willing sex partners and, well, murder victims. Patrick Bateman would have so much fun on the internet, wouldn't he?
So come along with me on a Photoshopped journey of blood, brunches, and Brooklyn — a.k.a. American Psycho in 2015.
Bateman At Work
In 2015, Bateman works at a communications and internet-centric cloud storage company called commPlex in Brooklyn. He sees commPlex as one of those annoying startups that must have multiple game rooms in the office, catered lunches, and all the guys wear message tees and jeans. Bateman refuses to conform and be an unprofessional, so he is the most intense one in the office, dressed in a suit and perfectly coiffed hair.
But that doesn't mean his competitiveness with the other employees. Bateman's jealousy becomes a full-on rage when Paul Allen (played by Chris Evans) gets his own Wikipedia page, gets verified on Twitter (it even has a blue check mark), and gets an exclusive brunch reservation at Williamsburg's own Dorsia.
Bateman With Women
Modern Bateman trolls OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, eHarmony, Match.com, and Tinder for potential mates — and murder victims. He charms them into coming home with him to his Williamsburg loft and to play his ridiculous and perverted sex games, which are often very humiliating. Bateman also blasts his Huey Lewis and the News and Phil Collins CDs (yes, he's so old school it's hip again) during sex, which kinda freaks out his younger dates.
Bateman At Large
In 2015, Bateman is just as murderous as he was in the 1980s. He still loves to use his chainsaw and his axe. In that respect, not too much has changed — he's still into murders and executions, while ranting about 80s pop culture. Because who isn't still talking about the 80s these days?
Bateman also feels the darkness, boredom, and ennui in his life, but hey, that hasn't changed since the 80s or 2000s either.
I guess some things just never go out of style.
Images: Mallory Carra/Bustle
