AMERICAN PSYCHO: Film & Music From The Controversial Motion Picture (2000)

American Psycho premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2000, and was theatrically released in the United States on April 14. The film received mostly positive reviews, with praise for Bale‘s performance and the screenplay, and grossed over $34 million on a $7 million budget.

It has since developed a cult following and a strong presence in contemporary meme culture. The film blends horror and black comedy to satirize 1980s yuppie culture and consumerism, exemplified by Bateman. Ellis considered his controversial novel potentially unfilmable, but producer Edward R. Pressman was determined to adapt it and bought the film rights in 1992.

The pre-production period was tumultuous; Harron chose Bale to play Bateman, but because distributor Lions Gate Films sought Leonardo DiCaprio in the role, Harron was fired and replaced with Oliver Stone.

After Stone and DiCaprio left due to creative differences, Harron was rehired and allowed to cast Bale. Principal photography began in February 1999 in Toronto and New York City.

American Psycho’s soundtrack features licensed 1980s pop music from a variety of artists, including David Bowie, Phil Collins, the Cure, the Mediæval Bæbes, New Order, and Eric B. & Rakim. Due to the film’s controversial nature, obtaining the rights proved difficult.

Though the production was able to obtain the rights to all necessary songs, Whitney Houston refused to allow the use of her performance of The Greatest Love of All, so an orchestral arrangement had to be used instead.

The Huey Lewis and the News song Hip to Be Square appears in the film and was intended to be on the soundtrack album, but was removed, forcing Koch Records to recall approximately 100,000 copies. The soundtrack album was released on April 4, 2000.

Tracklist:

1. Dope (You Spin Me Round)(Like A Record)
2. Monologue 1 (Christian Bale)
3. David Bowie – Something In The Air (American Psycho Remix)
4. The Cure – Watching Me Fall (Underdog Remix)
5. New Order (True Faith)
6. Monologue 2 (Christian Bale)
7. Daniel Ash (Trouble)
8. Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full (Coldcut Remix)
9. Tom Tom Club Who Feelin’ It (Philip’s Psycho Mix)
10. Monologue 3 (Christian Bale)
11. Information Society – What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy Mix)
12. M/A/R/R/S (Pump Up The Volume)
13. The Racket – Paid In Full (Remix)
14. Monologue 4 (Christian Bale)
15. Huey Lewis & The News (Hip To Be Square)