Woodyanders Review of The Psycho Legacy

The Psycho Legacy (2010 Video)

An excellent and illuminating documentary

[9/10 · 17 December 2010]

Writer/director Robert V. Galluzzo delivers a very informative and engrossing documentary that scrupulously covers Alfred Hitchcock's landmark 1960 classic and its three sequels, with the best and most intriguing segments digging up plenty of fascinating dirt on said sequels. Starting naturally with the influential original, which broke all the rules for its time, was slightly inspired by notorious serial killer Ed Gein, pushed the envelope with the shocking shower murder set piece, and, most importantly, introduced us to strangely sympathetic boy-next-door psycho Norman Bates and proved to be Anthony Perkins' signature role that he would forever be associated with. The makers of "Psycho II" knew from the get go that making a follow-up to such a well-respected film was a daunting challenge (screenwriter Tom Holland openly fesses up to this in the documentary), but the project had the right director with devout Hitchhock aficionado Richard Franklin. Surprisingly, Perkins and Meg Tilly didn't get along. We get some good info on how the surprise ending was kept secret from the cast and favorable comments on Jerry Goldsmith's terrific score. "Psycho III" was Perkins' directorial debut and everyone involved with the movie notes that he was an extremely warm, funny, and easygoing guy who was totally prepared for the job of helming a motion picture. Moreover, the love story aspect of the story and the off-kilter tone are both addressed along with the startling phone booth murder set piece and the fact that the third sequel reinstates the mythology from the original. "Psycho IV" benefits greatly from the ingenious casting of Henry Thomas as Norman (it was Thomas' first big lead part as an adult actor) and Olivia Hussey as Norman's beautiful, but abusive mother (Hussey confesses that she had a really hard time doing in the scene in which both Norman and his mother roll around on the floor). Director Mick Garris provides the most interesting anecdote when he admits that Perkins was very tough to work with. Featuring a wealth of fun, lively, and compelling interviews not only with direct participants in the movies (writers Holland and Charles Edward Pogue, thespians Jeff Fahey, Diana Scarwid, Robert Loggia, Katt Shea, Juliette Cummins, Donovan Scott, and Lee Garlington), but also such hardcore buffs as novelist David J. Schow and horror directors like Adam Green and Stuart Gordon, this documentary is absolutely essential viewing for fans of the "Psycho" films.