This is a collection where the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts for Psychophiles. The original Alfred Hitchcock-directed Psycho (1960), based on Robert Bloch's novel, is a masterpiece that repays repeated viewing – as a seminal and hugely influential horror movie and superbly constructed, blackly comic thriller.
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It benefits immensely from Bernard Herrmann's all-strings score and Anthony Perkins' indelible performance as the tormented Norman Bates. Perkins returned in Psycho II (1983), directed by Australian Richard Franklin, Psycho III (1986), which Perkins also directed, and Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990), a telemovie which was part sequel, part prequel, with Henry Thomas as the young Norman.
The middle sequels had more gore, influenced by the slasher movies of the period, and some complicated plot twists and continuity fudges that original Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stefano tried to ignore when he returned to write the fourth instalment.
The first three movies have lots of worthwhile extras – the fourth is disappointingly bare-bones – but that's not all. We also get the disappointing scene-for-scene 1998 Psycho remake directed by Gus Van Sant, with a lacklustre Vince Vaughn as Norman only showing how good Perkins was; the failed 1987 TV pilot Bates Motel, an interesting curio starring Bud Cort; and there are other extras to explore including a panel discussion filmed with Perkins before his death.
While the first movie is easily the best, Psycho fans and horror buffs in general should enjoy this set.
Ron Cerabona
