Question: Did Patrick really kill anybody or was it all in his mind? He killed a homeless man but there's no news report about it on TV. He murders Paul but is told Paul is in London. He severely beat and bloodied two prostitutes but no cops show up to arrest him. He murders Elizabeth and Christie but when he goes back to the apartment later, it is empty and put up for sale.
Question: When Patrick talks to Carnes, he confesses that he murdered Paul Owen. Why doesn't Carnes believe him, and how could Carnes have had dinner with Paul?
Answer: There are two possible answers. First, Carnes doesn't recognize Christian Bale as Bateman, instead thinking he is someone named Davis. He insults Bateman and thinks "Davis" left the message as a joke. Realize also that someone claims to have seen Owen/Allen in London, but mistook Herbert Ainsworth for him. Second, Bateman is delusional and only thinks he killed Owen/Allen, who is in fact alive and in London.
Question: Do we know what Patrick does to the 2 girls he takes back to his flat? We see his instruments in his drawer but then they leave in the next scene.
Chosen answer: He tortures them. You can see them bleeding as they leave. Christy also says she had to have surgery afterwards.
Answer: The situation is intentionally left vague. The homeless man being murdered wouldn't necessarily make the news in the time (there were over 4000 murders in 1989-90 when the book and movie are set). He and his friends are so alike that they continually mistake each other for others. The prostitutes would likely be loathe to call the police because they might be arrested themselves and he would likely get off with a much better lawyer.
Greg Dwyer