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Alfred Hitchcock's black-and-white Psycho was a sensation when it
was released in 1960. It killed off a major character at the end of the
first act, convinced audiences they had seen more than they had in the
murder scene, created sympathy for the murderer, and dealt with major
taboos which formerly came in a plain brown wrapper.
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Meant to look like an exploitation film, it was marketed in the William
(The Tingler) Castle manner, with no preview screenings, but with a
mail-out to critics urging them not to reveal the ending, and promotion of
a "no admission to latecomers" policy. One of the top grossers of its year,
it both made and stymied the career of Anthony Perkins, and has been
assessed as a turning point that helped create modern American cinema, and
bred the sex-and-violence films that followed in increasing numbers.
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Its characters, events, and Bernard Herrmann score even fed minor and
major allusions in comedy scripts, notably Mel Brooks's High
Anxiety. So why remake it?
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It seems Gus Van Sant fancied the idea, and, hot after Good Will
Hunting, could have his choice accepted -- especially as Universal
had the property, the old Bates house and motel sets, and a lean couple of
years.
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Van Sant elected to replicate Hitchcock's template in most ways, with
original screenwriter Joseph Stefano updating the script slightly, and to
shoot in colour. The old house and motel were given a facelift, and the
new cast outfitted by Van Sant's proven collaborator Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
in ways to recall the original film while agreeing with the new look of
the remake.
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And what does the overhaul do for the character of Norman Bates, custodian
of the Bates Motel, the ancestral home, and the secrets of both? Vince
Vaughn's interpretation, with many interesting observations, still remains
overshadowed by Anthony Perkins's creation. Vaughn's facial features and
beefier physique add a new dimension to Norman, but Vaughn's Norman doesn't
really suggest a man tied to his past. He doesn't look like listening to
Slim Whitman records would fill his Saturday
nights. He should be down the road at the Fairvale diner drinking Bud, at
least.
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And, while Perkins's Norman was so striking that the actor remains
identified with his "psycho" types of roles, there doesn't seem to be any
reason why Vaughn would get first call for Hollywood's oddball characters
in future.
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Other major changes in characterisation make Marion Crane (Anne Heche) and
her sister Lila (Julianne Moore) markedly dissimilar, in contrast to the
faintly troubling resemblances between Janet Leigh as Marion and Vera
Miles as the sister; and make Marion's lover Sam Loomis into a colourful
cowboy type, as incarnated by Viggo Mortensen, instead of the more sombre
square played by John Gavin. This last re-interpretation also cuts out
the possibility of Hitchcock's face-off between two tall dark opponents, as
Loomis stalls Bates in the motel office while Lila searches the house
beyond.
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However, Van Sant's changes might also be appraised to establish how they
succeed in revitalising the material for a new audience. The colour
scheme is certainly worth study for what it might add to the story,
atmosphere, and characterisation. Anthony Perkins returned as Norman
Bates three more times in sequels. Will there be a market for further
visits to Van Sant's version of his world?
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Details
Psycho, by Universal International Pictures 1998.
Director: Gus Van Sant.
Screenplay: Joseph Stefano.
Cinematography: Christopher Doyle.
Score: Bernard Herrmann, adapted by Danny Elfman.
Production Design: Tom Foden.
Costume Design: Beatrix Aruna Pasztor.
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy, Anne Heche.
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Citation reference for this article
MLA style:
Shane Lewis. "Norm Storms Warm Form: 'Psycho'." M/C Reviews 6 Feb. 99.
[your date of access] <http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/psycho.html>.
Chicago style:
Shane Lewis, "Norm Storms Warm Form: 'Psycho'," M/C Reviews 6 Feb. 99,
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/psycho.html> ([your date of access]).
APA style:
Shane Lewis. (1999) Norm storms warm form: 'Psycho'. M/C Reviews 6 Feb. 99.
<http://www.uq.edu.au/mc/reviews/screen/psycho.html> ([your date of access]).
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![[image]](http://movies.yahoo.com/images/movies/guide/01700601.jpg)