Posted: 1/24/26 at 11:44am
Just saw the reworked American Psycho back where it all began — and wow, this thing still slaps.
I’d forgotten how bold this show is, and this new production leans into that confidence hard. The score largely stays intact (thankfully), but one of the biggest surprises for me was the return of the “Sri Lanka” material — now reframed as “The Death of Downtown.” It fits the show’s thesis better than ever.
The book has been subtly but smartly refreshed, sharpening the political satire and threading the Trump-era commentary more clearly through Bateman’s world. It doesn’t hit you over the head — it just quietly makes everything feel more unsettlingly current.
Visually, the production is anchored in the TUNNEL nightclub, with LED flooring doing a lot of storytelling work. It’s slick, immersive, and occasionally disorienting in exactly the right way. Rupert Goold may have dialed back the literal blood (no ponchos this time), but don’t worry — the imagery is still brutal, disturbing, and often genuinely shocking.
Arty Froushan absolutely owns the role of Patrick Bateman. It’s a cooler, more internal performance than some past iterations, but it simmers constantly, and when it boils over, it’s chilling.
Hearing this score again reminded me how audacious American Psycho really is — cynical, stylish, uncomfortable, and unapologetic. This revival feels tighter, smarter, and somehow even more relevant. I really hope this version finally gets the extended life the show has always deserved.