I’m willing to hear out a gender-swapped version of the best horror story on toxic masculinity
A rumor is going around about Luca Guadagnino’s American Psycho and it isn’t really one I love. But I can come around on the idea if it is done the right way. And I do trust that Guadagnino and Scott Z. Burns wouldn’t disappoint me.
Now, the rumor is from The Sun which is not a publication you really should take as a legitimate “source” for things. Meaning, this is probably not the case, but it did pose an interesting thought for me, the number one American Psycho fan. Margot Robbie is being eyed to play a female version of Patrick Bateman in the film, according to the publication we cannot trust as legitimate.
You might be saying “How is that possible?” And guess what? So am I. But there is one way this can work and work well: The kind of woman who uses toxic masculinity and benefits from it. Now, if you had a female Patrick Bateman type of character and she was a product of that environment, I could get behind seeing how it plays out.
Women can, and often do, benefit from toxic masculinity and it isn’t a “good” thing. They’re often the type who will stop at nothing to reach the top and that means knocking women out of their way to do it. If this take on American Psycho was something along those lines, I’d be down to see it.
I do think Patrick Bateman should stay cis, white, and male though
A story like American Psycho puts a spotlight on the issue with toxic masculinity and what drives it. Patrick is a product of his environment. He’s rich, powerful, and thinks less of literally everyone else. But he got that status because of his white, rich upbringing. Yes, women in 2025 can have that same kind of mentality (why I’m willing to see what Guadagnino and company would do with Robbie as the lead). But there is still a worthwhile story in Patrick Bateman.
We have, in a poorly thought out sequel, tried to tackle this with a female lead. American Psycho 2 was a disaster and Rachael (Mila Kunis) was our female “Patrick Bateman.” Done correctly, it could be an interesting twist on the Bret Easton Ellis story.
I do think though that this story works because its white male protagonist doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong. He hurts women and the poor without a thought in his mind and it is all because he thinks his status as a white man makes him better. Would this female take on the character still be murdering women or just using them to climb the social ladder?
Whatever Guadagnino and Burns brings us, I would be interested in having Margot Robbie involved. Maybe not as Patrick Bateman but she’d make a perfect Jean, especially if the two take more from Ellis’ novel and how Bateman treats Jean in it. For now, I will leave everyone with this: I wouldn’t be mad at a female Patrick Bateman but I do think we have more to explore with this monster of a character.
(featured image: Lionsgate)
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