Psycho

The NEW Copy Cat
In this 1998 version of Psycho, Marion Crane (Anne Heche) is given the job of depositing $400,000 by a wealthy business client. She instead steals the money and seizes the opportunity to help her boyfriend (Viggo Mortenson) get out of debt and live the life they've dreamed of. But in her mad get-away, weather turns bad and Marion is forced to stop at a local motel, The Bates Motel. Soon after, Marion goes missing and it is up to her greedy boyfriend, a nosy Private Investigator and a determined sister to find out what's really behind the walls of the Bates Motel.

You might be thinking if you've seen the original Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho, then you've seen this one too. Interestingly you were right to feel this way because director Gus Van Sant copied the original movie shot for shot. Same eery music, same angular camera shooting, same in-head conversations, same creepy old motel with an even creepier big house behind it. And I thought I would really love the remake because of this cool idea (and the fact that I loooooved the Hitchcock version). BUT let's just let the record state that it should have been left at that...an idea! You can't mess with pure genius! That being said, if you haven't seen the 1960 Alfred Hitchcok version then you'll really enjoy this 1998 version. Psycho is a suspense thriller that will make your heart pound and your palms sweat. With a star cast and a storyline with twists and turns, you will end the film with your eyes bulging and your mouth hanging to the floor, yes the story is that good! By the way, why are all of the really creepy movies based on the main character having "mommy issues"? As a mommy myself, I resent this! ;o)

Let's talk casting for just a few quick moments. Star cast yes, but Vince Vaughn for the creepy, neurotic Norman Bates? Really? There wasn't ANYONE else available? Forgive me for typecasting him, but he's good in comedy movies because, um, he's funny! Also, I like Anne Heche as Marion Crane but in most the movie she came across as flighty and air-headed. But now the P.I. Arbogast played by William H. Macy, not THAT is a stroke of brilliance!!
Motherly Advice: With your filters set on Medium you'll experience a bunch of 'implied' things. Implied stabbing, implied murders, implied nudity, implied sexual scenes, but you won't actually have to see these things. Just beware that you'll know what you are missing even if you aren't actually SEEING it all. Also, there are a few REALLY jumpy scenes that will leave you creeped out for hours afterwards. Because of the creepy factor and all of the 'implied' things, I would recommend Psycho for ages 15 and up.
Trisha-A Mommy Against Movies with 'Mommy Issues'