10 More Horror Movies Which Broke The Fourth Wall To Scare You

American Psycho explores the life of Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a banker who's carved a public persona of a content businessman.

In reality, Bateman is an empty and sadistic psychopath, who cares for nothing but himself. Although his yuppie co-workers and vapid girlfriend are unaware of the darkness harbouring in Bateman, he constantly narrates his real thoughts, cluing us in to his true nature. For most of the running time, it feels like we have full access to Bateman's deranged mindset; a privilege no character in the movie has.

But everything that was believed about Bateman is called into question in the last few minutes. While speaking to a colleague, he discovers his co-worker, Paul Allen, is alive and well, despite the fact Bateman seemingly split his head open with a hatchet.

In that moment, viewers (and Bateman) can no longer tell how much of what they heard and saw actually happened. Did Bateman imagine he killed Paul? Was any of it real? Is Bateman a killer at all?

Although there are plenty of films where the protagonist speaks to the audience to give them great insight into their mind, American Psycho achieved the opposite. In this climax, we somehow have less understanding of Bateman than we did before. Even though it was scary when we thought Bateman was a monster, it's scarier when we realised we have no idea what he is.