Psycho (1998)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers (WGA):

Robert Bloch (novel)
Joseph Stefano (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 DECEMBER 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Check in. Unpack. Relax. Take a shower. [Theatrical]

Plot:

A young female embezzeler arrives at the Bates Motel which has terrible secrets of its own.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | House | Money | Remake | Shower

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Vince Vaughn	...	Norman Bates
Anne Heche	...	Marion Crane
Julianne Moore	...	Lila Crane
Viggo Mortensen	...	Samuel 'Sam' Loomis
William H. Macy	...	Milton Arbogast
Robert Forster	...	Dr. Fred Simon
Philip Baker Hall	...	Sheriff Al Chambers
Anne Haney	...	Mrs. Eliza Chambers
Chad Everett	...	Tom Cassidy
Rance Howard	...	Mr. Lowery
Rita Wilson	...	Caroline
James Remar	...	Patrolman
James LeGros	...	Charlie the Car Dealer
Steven Clark Pachosa	...	Police Guard
O.B. Babbs	...	Mechanic

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM14 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG (censored version)

Filming Locations:

Gorman, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The new house and motel sets were constructed directly in front of the original sets.

Goofs:

Continuity: The opening scene is supposed to be 2:48 in the afternoon, but it's quite obvious that it was filmed at sunrise, probably on a Saturday or Sunday morning. There is no street activity, and the light from the right (east) is very weak and nearly horizontal. If it had been shot in mid-afternoon the sun would have been higher, the light stronger, and shadows pronounced and angled.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Samuel 'Sam' Loomis: You never did eat your lunch, did you?
Marion Crane: I better get back to the office. These extended lunch hours give my boss excess acid.
Samuel 'Sam' Loomis: Why don't you call your boss and tell him you're taking the rest of the afternoon off? Its Friday, anyway - and hot.
Marion Crane: What do I do with my free afternoon? Walk you to the airport?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Put It On

"If you don't jell, it's not Jello, and this just ain't jelling"

I know curiosity killed the cat, but I simply had to see the remake of Psycho, especially after being on such a Hitchcok journey recently and knowing his work. I've watched the original Psycho though since I was a kid, I knew how to respect it and not only that, it was an excellent movie! One of the best, in fact! The first thing I said when I heard about the remake was "How do you remake perfection?". I stuck to that as well, but I think I have a more open mind now and figured maybe it was a way of introducing Psycho to a new generation.

But this turned into a total insult and slap to the face of the original Psycho. I know this has been said, but I watched the making of this film, and the director was like "Oh, I just want to update it and shoot each scene shot by shot like the original"... what's the friggin' point?! OK, but I want to judge this movie on it's own, despite it's insulting blows the original. I mean, the acting wasn't up to par, but honestly, it looked like the actors just watched the original and just memorized the lines from there and made it their crappy own.

Watching the making of this film, I wanted to slap Anne Hasche, she said "I've never seen the original, I just wanted to work with Gus." Ooh, that made me angry, because frankly, it's not just that, she really sucked in this role as Marian, she wasn't convincing, not to mention her shower scene really was horrible. Vince Vaughn didn't make... let's just put it this way, the film was horribly miscasted. This was a sin against film and on it's own, this was actually a bad movie. It was too much and destroyed what could've been a new introduction for a new generation. But to Gus, leave the film making the one's who KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING!

1/10