"Is this getting too long?": Michael Greyeyes delivers Patrick Bateman-like performance in 'Wild Indian'

"It’s Not My Fault Indians are a Bunch of Fucking Liars": 'Wild Indian' Presents a First-Nations Patrick Bateman

Film lovers, especially those drawn to complicated, dark characters, buckle up! Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr's debut feature, 'Wild Indian', introduces us to a unique and fascinatingly conflicted antihero of Ojibwe heritage, according to a review by The Guardian. Portrayed with an engaging blend of "arrogance and abject vulnerability" by Michael Greyeyes, the character draws comparison to Patrick Bateman from 'American Psycho'.

Redefining Native American Protagonists: "Is This Getting Too Long?"

Character Michael, a high-flying corporate achiever, presents as a "dark, inverted icon of his community’s generationally transmitted trauma, repression and self-loathing." On the surface, he is successful and adored by his wife, portrayed by Kate Bosworth, but deep down, he battles with deep-seated insecurities and traumas, shown through scenes like his encounter with a pandering colleague, Jesse Eisenberg. This internal struggle offers a fresh perspective on the depiction of Native American protagonists on the silver screen.

Michael's disturbing past and aggressive tendencies, including violent outbursts and abusive behaviors, are unveiled as the movie progresses. His actions, though unsettling, emphasize the layers of complexity in his character and establish him as a "First Nations version of Patrick Bateman".

Corbine Jr: "A Kind of Strength in Such a Self-Excoriating Point of View"

The director tells a modern Cain and Abel story with the narrative focusing on Michael and his cousin Teddo (Chaske Spencer). The familial bond is presented with a "baleful mythic sweep", offering a fresh narrative on generational trauma in the First Nations community. The film’s unique and self-excoriating point of view, especially amid the wave of affirmative diversity-driven filmmaking, marks Corbine Jr as a director to watch.

Highlights of the film include:

'Wild Indian' promises to be a stirring exploration of trauma, repression, and self-loathing among Native Americans, reminiscent of the dark complexity of the character Patrick Bateman.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)