Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 cult classic novel American Psycho seems to neatly divide it's readers into 3 categories. First, there are those which consider it one of the sharpest social satires of its time, with the rampant consumerism of the 1980s as its target - and a worthy one at that.

Secondly, there are those who protested that the book was un-necessarily violent, degrading to women and down-right offensive - a moral minority who have ensured that the book is sold in shrink-wrapped protection throughout Australia, and banned outright in Queensland (surprise, surprise).

Finally, there are those of us who found the book compelling, impossible to put down, but in the end, relatively pointless. And while Mary Harron's adaption is a success in some respects, you're ultimately left with an emptier feeling as you leave the cinema than when you read the novel's final words - THIS IS NOT AN EXIT.

American Psycho tells the story of Patrick Bateman, Wall Street Banker, Fitness Freak, Primadonna and psychotic murderer. Like the novel, the film presents the story as a series of vignettes, showing Bateman as he floats through a world of business lunches, nightclubs, business lunches, parties, business lunches, cocaine, and more business lunches. The monotony and facelessness of the 'Greed Is Good' mentality are savagely lampooned, and Bateman fights against the system in his own unique way - by slaughtering homeless people, call girls, business associates, and anyone else unfortunate enough to get in his way.

British Actor Christian Bale plays Bateman in a completely over the top fashion, like he's spruiking products on some dodgy late-night Infomercial. Physically, he is Bateman personified, right down to the cocky swagger and knowing winks at his bulging biceps as he has sex with yet another hooker. As Bateman unravels in a sea of coke and prescription drugs, Bale really chews the scenery, but never really captures the soul-less soul of Bateman which Ellis so brilliantly portrayed in the novel. Still, if this were any other movie, he'd probably have to start preparing his speech come Oscar time.

Though much of the sprawling detail and gratuitous violence of American Psycho is thankfully left on to the viewer's imagination, the ambiguity of the novel is left intact. Did Bateman really commit these heinous crimes, or were these his deepest drug-fuelled fantasies? Was the rest of the world so caught up with appearances that it chose to ignore Bateman's deeds? That's up to you to decide. But whether it's worth spending 2 hours in a cinema to find out is debatable. If you really want to delve into Patrick Bateman's heart of darkness, read the book.

- Kris Swales

American Psycho is screening now in cinemas everywhere.