How To Butcher A Classic
Psycho (1998): After holding the original 1960 version of ‘Psycho’ in such high regards, the highest regard for so long, I thought I owed it to myself to watch the 1998 remake. I must admit on the outside this looks like it could be quite promising, with a fairly well known cast including Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball), Viggo Mortenson (The Lord Of The Rings trilogy) and Julianne Moore (Hannibal). However after sitting through the 109 minutes, it came clear that not even these actors could save this awful take on a classic. The main problem I have with it is that is a complete shot for shot remake of the original, I still don’t understand why this had to be done, because after watching the original many, many times there are small (and they are very small) problems with it. Surely a remake would need to address these problems and build on them to create a solid film? Obviously, the answer is no, because I can’t see anything, apart from the obvious modernisation that it needs, that has changed. Apart from one single scene, which I was quite annoyed to see included. Alfred Hitchcock who directed the original said he “wanted audiences to be able to sympathize with Bates and genuinely like the character, so he made him more of a ‘boy next door.’” When, in the original, we see Norman spying on Marion Crane, we don’t think of this as a act of perversion, more of curiosity, however in this film it is made blatantly obvious that it is in a perverted way, which annoyed me alot as Norman Bates isn’t supposed to be like that. I hoped with the inclusion of William H. Macy, as the ill-fated private investigator Arbogast, the film may have a ray of hope, but unfortunately Macy is wrongly cast, and thus his performance is overall disappointing. The one scene I hoped would be changed would be where Arbogast is stabbed and falls down the stairs backwards, when watching the original, this is the part that makes it seem dated, but yet again the shot by shot remake means, that yes, it is included. Overall, given the chance do not waste your time on this awful remake, please, please opt for the 1960 original and give yourself a proper film experience.
1/5
