10 Important Horror Movie Details That Are Almost Never Mentioned

2. Patrick Bateman Works Out To The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - American Psycho

American Psycho
Lionsgate

Though it's basically impossible to misinterpret American Psycho as anything but a ferocious satire of masculinity and the tireless excess of the 1980s, in case you weren't quite clued in, there is a darkly hilarious visual gag hidden in plain sight.

At the start of the movie when we see literally card-carrying psychopath Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) working out in his apartment, he does ab crunches while watching The Texas Chain Saw Massacre of all things.

It should be incredibly obvious given that the shot holds for a solid 10 seconds, and yet we're all perhaps so entranced by Christian Bale's chiselled form that we don't even notice Gunnar Hansen swinging his chainsaw around or Marilyn Burns screaming her lungs out.

It's all the more apt considering that, later in the movie, Bateman of course kills sex worker Christie (Cara Seymour) by dropping a chainsaw on her from his apartment's stairwell. 

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.