10 Horror Movies That Are Pro-Feminism

6. American Psycho

How could a film about a murderous, misogynist yuppie who dispatches sex workers with chainsaws possibly be even vaguely feminist? Well, before Gloria Steinem – who famously protested both the film and the Bret Easton Ellis book on which it was based, but funnily enough went on to marry star Christian Bale’s dad (which probably made for a few awkward Christmas dinners) – butts in, consider this: while it’s no Bechdel Test winner, American Psycho isn’t quite the anti-female film some purport it to be.

Directed by Mary Harron, who also wrote the script alongside Guinevere Turner, the film actually serves as a scathing indictment of 1980s neoliberal capitalism and the toxic hyper-masculinity it encouraged. Patrick Bateman isn’t a glorified character or portrayed as something to aspire to but more a pitiful person whose shallow, egotistic and status-obsessed lifestyle – evidenced throughout the film from his fanatic skincare regimen to his pathetic business card envy – is something to be avoided at all cost.

It’s actually a feminist takedown of the values that suit-wearing neoliberals espouse … if you can get past all the sexual torture and murder, of course.