It polarized audiences and critics with some showering praise, others scorn. Upon its theatrical release, however, the film received positive reviews in crucial publications, including "The New York Times" which called it a "mean and lean horror comedy classic". Author Bret Easton Ellis said, "American Psycho was a book I didn't think needed to be turned into a movie," as "the medium of film demands answers," which would make the book "infinitely less interesting." The film currently holds a 67% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.