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The Psycho Legacy
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Wikipedia article
'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.[http://www.cinemaspy.ca/article.php?id=2385 New Trailer Released for 'Psycho' Doc] It is written and directed by Robert Galluzzo.[http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/12308 12 Minutes of 'The Psycho Legacy' Documentary] 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'.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/08/psycho_iv_alumni_join_the_psyc.html Psycho IV Alumni Join The Psycho Legacy Documentary!] It also features interviews with current horror filmmakers who are fans of the 'Psycho' series.[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38384/dvd-art-robert-galluzzos-the-psycho-legacy DVD Art: Robert Galluzzo's The Psycho Legacy]
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 IIV' (archive footage)[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/02/rare_anthony_perkins_footage_u.html Rare Anthony Perkins Footage Uncovered For The Psycho Legacy Documentary!]
* Janet Leigh Marion Crane, 'Psycho' (archive footage)
* Vera Miles Lila Crane, 'Psycho III' (archive footage)
* Alfred Hitchcock Director, 'Psycho' (archive footage)
* Hilton A. Green Assistant Director, 'Psycho'/Producer, 'Psycho IIIV'[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36718/the-psycho-legacy-finally-coming-home The Psycho Legacy Finally Coming Home]
* 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' IIIII/Raymond Linette, 'Psycho IV'
* Diana Scarwid Maureen Coyle, 'Psycho III'
* Lee Garlington Myrna, 'Psycho IIIII'
* Jeff Fahey Duane Duke, 'Psycho III'
* Juliette Cummins Red, 'Psycho III'
* Brinke Stevens Body Double, 'Psycho III'
* Katt Shea Patsy, 'Psycho III'[http://pretty-scary.net/content/katt-shea-talks-psycho-legacy Katt Shea talks 'The Psycho Legacy']
* 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.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/05/the_psycho_legacy_trailer.html The Psycho Legacy Trailer!] 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.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/03/new_extensive_the_psycho_legac.html New Extensive Psycho Legacy Interview On RetroSlashers.net!] 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.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2008/06/fright_exclusive_interview_psy.html Fright Exclusive Psycho Reunion Panel!] 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, Im 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 Id 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. Thats the main reason its 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.[http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/06/the_psycho_movies_website_rela_1.html The Psycho Movies Website Relaunches!] 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
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