The Psycho Legacy

''The Psycho Legacy'' is a 2010 American independent direct-to-video documentary film that examines the history of the '' Psycho'' film franchise and the continuing legacy of the original '' Psycho''. It also pays a tribute to actor Anthony Perkins for his portrayal of character Norman Bates. It is written and directed by Robert Galluzzo. It includes interviews with the cast and crew who were involved in the productions of '' Psycho'', '' Psycho II'', ''Psycho III'' and '' Psycho IV: The Beginning''. It also features interviews with current horror filmmakers who are fans of the ''Psycho'' series.

The documentary was in production for three years and was released on DVD on October 19, 2010 in the United States and Canada.

Cast

* Anthony Perkins – Norman Bates, ''Psycho I–IV'' (archive footage)
* Janet Leigh – Marion Crane, ''Psycho'' (archive footage)
* Vera Miles – Lila Crane, ''Psycho I–II'' (archive footage)
* Alfred Hitchcock – Director, ''Psycho'' (archive footage)
* Hilton A. Green – Assistant Director, ''Psycho''/Producer, ''Psycho II–IV''
* Tom Holland – Writer, ''Psycho II''
* Richard Franklin – Director, ''Psycho II'' (archive footage)
* Robert Loggia – Dr. Bill Raymond, ''Psycho II''
* Chris Hendrie – Deputy Pool, ''Psycho II''
* Andrew London – Editor, ''Psycho II''
* Kurt Paul – Mother, ''Psycho'' II–III/Raymond Linette, ''Psycho IV''
* Diana Scarwid – Maureen Coyle, ''Psycho III''
* Lee Garlington – Myrna, ''Psycho II–III''
* Jeff Fahey – Duane Duke, ''Psycho III''
* Juliette Cummins – Red, ''Psycho III''
* Brinke Stevens – Body Double, ''Psycho III''
* Katt Shea – Patsy, ''Psycho III''
* Donovan Scott – Kyle, ''Psycho III''
* Charles Edward Pogue – Writer, ''Psycho III''
* Mick Garris – Director, ''Psycho IV''
* Henry Thomas – Young Norman Bates, ''Psycho IV''
* Olivia Hussey – Norma Bates, ''Psycho IV''
* Sharen Camille – Holly, ''Psycho IV''
* Cynthia Garris – Ellen Stevens, ''Psycho IV''
* Michael Gingold – Editor: '' Fangoria''
* Stuart Gordon – Director
* Adam Green – Writer/Director
* Rolfe Kanefsky – Writer/Director
* Joe Lynch – Director
* Jason Allentoff – Webmaster, The Psycho Movies.com
* David J. Schow – Writer
* Dave Parker – Writer
* Ryan Turek – Journalist, Shock Til You Drop.com
* John Murdy – Creative Director, Universal Studios: California
* Tony Timpone – Former Editor, ''Fangoria''

Development

The documentary was originally developed in late 2006. Robert Galluzzo said that he got the idea for the documentary when the '' Psycho II'' and ''Psycho III'' DVDs were re-released back in 2005. He was disappointed that the DVDs contained no special features and that there was little information out there about the ''Psycho'' sequels, and decided to make the documentary. Galluzzo originally went to Universal Studios with the idea of the studio financing the documentary and releasing it in a box set along with '' Psycho'', '' Psycho II'', ''Psycho III'' and '' Psycho IV: The Beginning'', but Universal wasn't interested in these ideas. John Murdy, the creative director of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights did allow Galluzzo to shoot an interview at the Bates Motel and Psycho house sets on the backlot. Pictures and footage from all the films had to be licensed from Universal which accounted for the majority of the documentary's budget.

Production

Filming began in January 2007. Director Robert Galluzzo shot interviews with ''Psycho'' cast and crew members over the next three years. Galluzzo personally financed the production as he described it as a "labour of love project". Different types of digital video cameras were used to film the interviews over the three-year-long production, thus giving the documentary an aspect ratio of both fullscreen and widescreen. Galluzzo and editor Jon Maus used school equipment to edit the footage together first into a 12-minute promotional video and then the full documentary. Galluzzo stated in an interview with Retro Slashers.com: "The shoot itself was just my dear friend John Torrani, who had a Panasonic DVX-100 camera and myself. He was crazy enough to follow me on this journey and for that, I’m eternally grateful to him! Essentially, I made a ton of phone calls, sent out a ton of emails and did my best to contact as many '' Psycho'' alumni as possible to arrange interviews. Most of them are based out of California, so I’d work at my dayjob for 3 months straight, then take 2 weeks off to go shoot some interviews. And then come back and do it all over again. That’s the main reason it’s taken so long is because I had to go back to work and save up the money to continue shooting. This was always a labor of love, so I did anything I could to make it work and get just a tiny bit further along".

Promotion

In April 2008, at the Fangoria horror convention, a Psycho reunion panel was held to promote the documentary. Many cast members attended including Hilton A. Green, Mick Garris, Tom Holland, Kurt Paul, Juliette Cummins, Katt Shea, Cynthia Garris, Chris Hendrie and more. It was also promoted at San Diego Comic Con 2010.

Release

The documentary premiered at the 2010 Screamfest Horror Film Festival on October 16, 2010, followed by a Q&A with Mick Garris, Cynthia Garris and Katt Shea. The documentary saw DVD release on October 19 by Shout! Factory. Special features include a rare 41 minute panel discussion with Anthony Perkins, Extended Interviews, Deleted Scenes, "Remembering ''Psycho II''" featurette, "Shooting ''Psycho II''" featurette, "The Bates Motel tour" featurette, "Catching up with Mother" featurette, "Psycho Reunion Panel", "Psycho on the Web", " Hyaena Gallery Presents: Serial Killer Inspired Art and Norman Bates in Print" featurette. The documentary is also being released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in France on October 18, 2011. It was also released on Blu-ray Disc in Germany on February 14, 2012. Releases in other countries is yet to be decided.

Critical reception

The documentary has received mostly positive reviews. Staci Layne Wilson of Horror.com wrote: "Overall, I think this doc is a great way for Shout! Factory and Masi Media LLC to help us all celebrate the 50th birthday of Alfred Hitchcock's beloved ''Psycho''". Jason Allentoff of The Psycho Movies.com wrote: "RobG's look at this film series is incredible. It's a shame Universal hasn't taken notice". Matt Fini of Dread Central.com wrote: "As far as ''Psycho'' is now concerned, we've thankfully got this documentary so that we won't forget". Mike Gencarelli of Movie Mikes wrote: "If you add the amazing feature film to these special features you have the ultimate collection for all ''Psycho'' fans". William David Lee of DVD Town.com wrote: "The retrospective may not be as in-depth as some would like, there is enough to sate the appetites of the most die-hard ''Psycho'' followers". Horror Talk.com claims "director Galluzzo does his best with a lot of fine material and keeps things moving at a decent clip, but repeat viewings will reveal the limitations that keep this from being the ultimate experience that it should be".

Tyler Foster of DVD Talk.com wrote: "There are things to like, about both the feature and the extras, but I can only recommend a rental – spend your money on the new Blu-ray Disc of ''Psycho'' instead". Joe Shearer of Film Yap.com wrote: "If you're a fan of the ''Psycho'' franchise, I'd wholeheartedly recommend this DVD. If you're a classicist looking for insights on Hitchcock, I'd say you might come away from this disappointed". Some critics were disappointed with the fact that the Robert Bloch novels were barely discussed in the documentary and that the failed TV pilot '' Bates Motel'' and the 1998 remake were not mentioned, although in the deleted scenes section of the DVD there was supposed to be two short segments about the TV pilot and remake but for unknown reasons they were left off of the DVD when it was released. Some critics also criticized the low-budget production values of the film, citing issues with the sound and aspect ratio of the documentary. The documentary received a 7.0 out of 10 rating from IGN.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Psycho Legacy, The
2010 documentary films
2010 direct-to-video films
2010 films
American documentary films
American independent films
American direct-to-video films
Psycho (franchise)
Films shot in Los Angeles
Films shot in New York City
Documentary films about films
Direct-to-video documentary films
Works about Alfred Hitchcock
Documentary films about horror
2010 independent films
2010s English-language films
2010s American films