A recent video from Midsummer Scream 2022 shows a cosplayer doing a frighteningly accurate impression of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. Patrick Bateman, the titular psycho, was originally played by Christian Bale in the 2000 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial novel of the same name. While the role has since been played by Michael Kremko in American Psycho II: All American Girl and in several scenes cut from The Rules of Attraction by Casper Van Dien, Bale’s portrayal has remained the definitive take on the character, and upon which this cosplayer is clearly riffing.
Director Mary Harron’s adaptation of American Psycho, while met with as much controversy as the original novel upon its 2000 release, has since come to be regarded as one of the great American horror films of the 21st century, as well as an important satire of toxic masculinity and capitalism. Its staying power is largely due to Christian Bale’s iconic turn as Patrick Bateman. His portrayal of a vapid, soulless man whose personality is nothing but a mask is so strong that it not only drives the themes of the film home, but also convinced Christopher Nolan that he was the only actor who could portray Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. It is an absolutely towering performance from one of the finest actors of his generation.
With a performance as specific and iconic as Bale’s turn as Patrick Bateman, it would be reasonable to assume that imitating him would be near impossible. After all, Michael Kremko’s attempt to play the same part was met with disastrous reviews in the 2002 sequel. However, TikTok user PumaDoesCosplay recently captured a video of a man doing an eerie imitation of Bale’s iconic performance. Brett Gustafson, the cosplayer, is not only the spitting image of Patrick Bateman with his slicked back hair, finely tailored suit, and garbage bag containing a mysterious bloody mass, but also absolutely nails the overly polite, hollow friendliness Bale brought to the role. Plus, he has a Huey Lewis and the News CD on him, which doesn’t hurt.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AMERICAN PSYCHO COSPLAY ON TIKTOK
The video from Midsummer Scream is not the first time Gustafson has showcased his uncanny ability to embody the role of Patrick Bateman. In a video on his TikTok page, illusionalchemy, Gustafson invites the viewer out to a meal at Dorsia, a fictional restaurant from American Psycho, while sounding almost indistinguishable from Bale. In another, he strolls through Monsterpalooza, narrating his journey through the horror con much like Bateman narrates the opening of the film.
The popularity of Gustafson’s cosplay speaks to the longevity of Bale’s turn as Patrick Bateman and to the iconic status of Harron’s film. American Psycho has since been referenced in music videos by Kanye West, Maroon 5, and a FunnyorDie sketch starring “Weird Al” Yankovic and Huey Lewis himself. It is often imitated, but will likely never be followed up with another sequel or remake, which is perhaps the truest testament to its unassailable status as a landmark of horror cinema.
Sources: TikTik/PumaDoesCosplay, TikTok/illusionalchemy