User Reviews

Anyone still wonder why Gus Van Sant remade 'Psycho'??? Well this short documentary film directed by DJ who was allowed to document the making of 'Psycho' will answer that question and a whole lot more. The film also has many interviews with Van Sant, the cast, film theorists and other people who were involved with the original and the remake including Pat Hitchcock who gives the remake her blessing and support. All of them voice their opinion and ideas about this experimental film and as you may have guessed not all of the coments are positive.

If anything, this documentary isn't long enough and I find myself watching it over and over fascinated by all the opinions and ideas people had when 'Psycho' was being remade. It's so much more than a 'behind the scene's' documentary - it's more of a critical look at why Hollywood re-makes classic movies and how the new 'Psycho' is a firm example of the post-modern era we have entered in the last few years.

The documentary gives accurate comparisons between the original and the remake as well as showing subtle differences between the two films. 'Psycho Path' is available on the DVD of the 'Psycho' remake and it well worth a look. I bought the DVD just so I could have a copy of the documentary.

So anyone who's interested in film or the ideas behind one of the only movies of the 90's that had people scratching their heads as to why it was made - give this 30 minute film a look and then you will understand - "we all go a little made sometimes".

'Psycho' Path (1999)

*** (out of 4)

This here is an entertaining thirty-minute documentary that takes a look at the making of the 1998 remake of PSYCHO. Obviously, we start off hearing from some people who thought director Gus Van Sant was crazy for attempting to remake what is considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made. We hear from people asking why they were doing it and then we hear from the director himself on why he wanted to. From here it's a behind-the-scenes tour of the set and features interviews with most of the main cast members including Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Philip Baker Hall, Viggo Mortensen, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Rita Wilson as well as other crew members.

For the most part this here is a fun documentary that asks the obvious questions but the highlight here is all of the behind-the-scenes footage. This includes the director and Vaughn going over what type of haircut Norman should have, what type of hat Macy should wear and there's even a selection of the shower curtain. Stuff like this was a lot of fun but at the same time it also makes it clear why the movie was so awful and that's because everyone was trying to make this better than the original or trying to pay homage and the end result was just downright bad.