Psycho is an enduring franchise, spawning several films over many decades http://www.thepsychomovies.com/
a new TV series called Bates Motel on A&E http://www.aetv.com/bates-motel/
and even a haunted house: http://www.thebatesmotel.com/
What do you think are some of the reasons for the continued interest?
-PK-
I think production companies know that audiences will want to see spinoffs and remakes of films they love, even if the new material is bad. I bet many people thought the Psycho remake would be bad, but they paid to see it anyway in order to see just how 'bad' it would be. We like seeing what things were changed and talking about them. Why we like changes, what the film makers should have done etc.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point. Audience are also anticipating change and the fact is, it does not matter what a remake look like they will still pay to watch a remake especially of Psycho. Can you imagine a remake of Psycho 2-4. I just can't imagine it but it happened in the case of Psycho.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I would miss any sequels without Tony Perkins. I didn't care for the shot-for-shot 'remake'; it was pointless, in my opinion. I have enjoyed episodes of the new TV show, however. -PK-
DeleteI watched "The Bates Motel" on A&E. It's a good suspenseful show. I'm ready for the 2nd season to air.
ReplyDeleteI think the continued interest is that Psycho is such an iconic film.
I really enjoyed The Bates Motel series! I can't wait for next season. I think it is really interesting how it is based off of a movie from the 60's but not all of the things in the show are from the 60's. For example, they all drive older cars and wear vintage clothes, but somehow they all have cell phones. Did you notice this too? And, do you think this is because it is a new show and they wanted to update it or do you think it was for another reason?
DeleteIt's always interesting and puzzling when Hollywood does a remake. It's hard to say why some are successful and some are not. There have been many movie about the Titanic, but I don't think I'd watch another after the last one. Or Ten Commandments - Yul Brenner. Some movies are just too epic to be done again. However, I really like watching remakes that span a few decades and how they change with the times.
ReplyDeleteExample:
Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan (1940) - then
In The Good Old Summer Time - Judy Garland and Van Johnson (1949) and next
You've Got Mail - Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (1998)
Basically all the same movie, but updated or changed enough to still have great appeal.
I believe the main reason is the plot. In other horror movies the villains are mindless zombies, or created monsters. In this film the villain is a "normal" person. One that doesn't strike you as a villain until things start going awry.
ReplyDeleteI think that's what I liked about movies such as Funny Games and Scream. The killers weren't mindless but rather cold and calculated, this was especially the case in Funny Games. The killers were messed up, but what I also thought was interesting was the fact the film is fairly recent and if I recall correctly, it has less blood than Psycho.
DeleteBut yeah the success of the show kind of surprises me considering the franchise seemed to fall flat with the last of the sequels and then the remake.