#574 – Psycho (1998)

In episode 574 of *Straight Chilling: Horror Movie Review*, hosts Bob, Rand Diesel, and Soju deliver a scathing critique of Gus Van Sant's 1998 shot-for-shot remake of Alfred Hitchcock's *Psycho*. The episode opens with banter about the show’s May poll, which favors *Twilight Breaking Dawn Part One* as a 'monumental mommy' movie, prompting jokes about Easter and family dynamics. The hosts then dive into their collective disdain for the remake, calling it a soulless, self-defeating experiment that fails to capture the original’s tension, innovation, or artistry. Despite using the same script, score, and shot composition, they argue the film feels disjointed, dated, and emotionally hollow—like watching actors mimic a classic without understanding its spirit. They highlight the jarring anachronisms (like Walkman references and 90s fashion), the awkward performances (especially Vince Vaughn’s goofy, unconvincing portrayal of Norman Bates), and the bizarre additions (such as birds in the basement and a poorly executed shower scene). The hosts debate whether the film was a failed artistic statement or simply a money grab, ultimately agreeing it’s a waste of time and money. They rate it a 0.5, 0.5, and 1 star respectively, averaging a 0.7. The episode concludes with a Rotten Tomatoes trivia segment, trivia about the film’s production, a 'Cooter of the Week' segment (nominating Gus Van Sant and Norman Bates), and updates on what the hosts have been watching, including *Midnight Mass*, *Running Man*, and a Korean film called *Adablish Homicide*.