Usually sequels offer something for fans of the original. At the very least, they have similar themes or offer the same characters and activities that made the first movie successful. That’s why I’m having a hard time trying to figure out who would possibly enjoy the direct to video American Psycho 2.
American Psycho (based on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel) was a satire of 1980s yuppie materialism, represented by Patrick Bateman (a brilliant Christian Bale) who kills prostitutes and homeless men to establish his social power but also kills a co-worker so he can have the best-looking business card in the office. Director Mary Harron also showed, as Ellis keenly did, that being a greedy overachiever makes you just like everybody else. Stripped of basic emotions and possessed by his possessions and status, a man doesn’t really exist.
American Psycho 2 has cute college freshman and sociopath Mila Kunis killing people for 88 minutes, usually with a large knife.
I can’t think of one American Psycho fan who wouldn’t be disappointed watching this far inferior sequel, which doesn’t even try to flex any intellectual muscles or take any chances. It’s another stale, kill by numbers flick, complete with blade thin characters and terrible, pun laden dialogue. And if that’s not enough for you, William Shatner is in it.
The plot of the sequel introduces us to Rachel Newman, who we learn was responsible for murdering uptown serial killer Bateman. Instead of retreating into a psychotic shell, the older Rachel (Kunis) is now a college freshman studying under Professor Robert Starkman (Shatner), who was once the FBI’s premiere serial killer hunter. Rachel is hell bent on becoming his teacher’s assistant next year, which would make her a shoo in for the FBI’s training program.
However, Rachel has stiff competition, and she is soon murdering her classmates with nary a blip on her conscience radar. However, she decides to see the campus psychologist (Geraint Wyn Davies), who almost immediately identifies Rachel as a textbook sociopath and warns Starkman. Actually, I’m making the plot sound more advanced than it really is. It’s really just the typical array of threatening conversations between Rachel and the doc, numerous killings, and a lame “She isn’t dead!?” ending. Trust me You’ve seen it all before, so don’t bother watching it again.
If you do succumb, try to determine how Kunis (who weighs, tops, 100 pounds) not only strangles a fairly muscular male classmate, but disposes of all of the bodies into dumpsters and automobiles. Then again, as Michael Myers shows in the recent Halloween: Resurrection, serial killing can give you super strength, so what do I know?
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