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1960 ORIGINAL VS. 1998 REMAKE |
 Would replacing the chrome with more contemptory chrome-colored plastic do any justice to a 1960 Caddilac? Of course not. So how about taking a 1960 movie and just give it a late '90's look? Let's see... The script of the 1998 remake is practically a photocopy of the original. Aside from the very minor dialogue changes, the modernized setting, and the inflation adjustment of the stolen money (the $40,000 from the original Psycho becomes $400,000 after nearly 40 years), this movie offers nothing fresh and seems to just be one big anachronism with the cast in a '90's setting consistently talking like people from 1960. While the acting is fine, Anthony Perkins (of the original Psycho) makes a much better Norman Bates than Vince Vaughn does. Perkins is creepier because he has such fey mannerisms, and they lend credibility toward the idea of his character dressing up as his mother. Vaughn looks scary at the end of the 1998 movie, but he would do better playing a different serial killer. The other major shortcoming with the remake is that it offers no breakthroughs as far as chills and thrills are concerned. The original Psycho became a classic because back then in 1960, people weren't desensitized to stabbings; furthermore, Alfred Hitchcock made the most out of the film despite all the restrictions. Almost 40 years and even more slasher films later, reenacting the shower scene becomes another trite stabbing which is not even one-tenth as graphic as what horror movie fans are accustomed to seeing (for one thing, the knife stays perfectly clean despite the repeated stabbings). If anything, the overly conservative stabbing discourages new audiences from seeing the original Psycho. |
My rating for the 1998 remake: 
** NOTE: The more dots on the domino, the higher the rating. 12 dots point to a masterpiece
while a spotless domino means you should wash your hands of the movie... **
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