12 September 2023

Review: The Psycho Collection Limited Edition 4K UHD

Psycho, one of the most famous films of modern times, what can you say about it that hasn’t already been said a million times? Well actually, nothing, because the 4K check discs we were sent to review didn’t include this film as Arrow were only responsible for the 4K restorations of Psycho II, Psycho III and Psycho IV from the original camera negatives (It IS included in the box set!).

Psycho II.
22 years after being arrested for multiple murders, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is released from prison after being found mentally competent. His most famous victim, Marion Crane’s sister Lila (Vera Miles), appears at the hearing and demands he’s not set free as he’s still a danger to people.
Dr Raymond (Robert Loggia) accompanies Norman as he moves to his old home, yes that famous house, behind the Bates Motel. He starts a new job, being given a ‘second chance’ by Emma Spool.
He then meets a young waitress Mary (Meg Tilly) and… no spoilers.

This is actually a lot better than you think it’s going to be, with Perkins hamming it up nearly as much as hysterical Vera Miles. It’s a ‘fun’ story with a mid-twist that you don’t really see coming, and an ending that will floor you (boom boom).

Psycho 3
Takeing place a month after Psycho 2, where Norman Bates is running the Bates Motel with the corpse of ‘Mother’ (Emma Spool from film 2) still sitting up in the house. This film is pretty bonkers, where Norman meets a suicidal nun on the run from a convent, and falls in love with her. Mainly because she sort of looks like Marion Crane. The nun hitches a ride with Duane Duke – who tries to rape her, dumps her, then gets a job at Bates motel just before she arrives there.

All that to contend with, plus a reporter also tries to solve the mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Spool as someone begins another murder spree. Perkins directed this and it’s definitely a bit of a vanity project. It’s got a confusing story and even now I’m not sure who did all the killings.

Psycho 4 (Or “They really should have left it at #2).
Norman, despite the many people he’s killed, is now cured and living with his wife, who was also his psychiatrist (really), who is pregnant. Will Norman become unhinged in the fear that his murderous genes will come out in a baby?

During a late night talk show about men who kill their mothers, Norman rings in and tells the host the story of how he became a murderer. This film actually hammers the mother/son incest thing and sexual frustration leading to.. umm.. killing nubile girls who want to shag him. Again Perkins hams it up and who can blame him? It’s now become a parody of itself with all the tropes in the right place, we even get a young Norman dressing up as Mother for the first time.

But unfortunately, as with many franchises, the first 2 are always the best.

This new 4K transfer from Arrow is pin sharp, but mmm I dunno, I think there are a lot more films out there that deserve a restoration more than Psycho 2 ,3 and 4. It’s a shame we didn’t get the first film in the set as all the great extras are on it too.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) presentations of all four films
New 4K restorations of Psycho II, Psycho III and Psycho IV from the original camera negatives
Original lossless mono and 5.1 audio options for Psycho, stereo and 5.1 options for Psycho II and Psycho III, and stereo audio options for Psycho IV
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
Double-sided posters for each film featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
9 postcard sized reproduction art cards
120-page perfect bound collector’s book featuring new writing by film critics John-Paul Checkett and Johnny Mains plus select archival material

Disc 1 – PSYCHO (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

Audio Commentary with Stephen Rebello, author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
The Making of Psycho documentary
In the Master’s Shadow, Hitchcock’s Legacy featurette
Hitchcock / Truffaut audio interview with scenes from the movie
Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho featurette
The Shower Scene: With & Without Music featurette
The Shower Sequence, storyboards by Saul Bass image gallery
Psycho Sound featurette
The Psycho Archives image gallery
Posters and Psycho Ads image gallery
Lobby Cards image gallery
Behind the Scenes Photographs image gallery
Publicity Shots image gallery
Theatrical trailer
Re-Release trailers

Disc 2 – PSYCHO II (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

New audio commentary by film critics Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
Archival audio commentary by screenwriter Tom Holland
Behind the Curtain: The Masters of Horror on Psycho, panel discussion with screenwriter Tom Holland and Psycho IV director Mick Garris moderated by Robert V. Galluzzo
Giving Bloch His Due, interview with Chet Williams, author of Psycho: Sanitarium on the legacy of Norman Bates’ creator, author Robert Bloch
Anthony Perkins TV interview
Anthony Perkins audio interview
Richard Franklin audio interview
Richard Franklin On Set featurette
Richard Franklin scene commentary
A sequel to a Classic featurette
The House on the Hill featurette
Personality Profile: Anthony Perkins featurette
Personality Profile: Richard Franklin featurette
Still Crazy After all these Years
Behind the scenes featurette
Anthony Perkins interview
Vera Miles interview
Janet Leigh interview
Jerry Goldsmith demo
Trailers & TV spots
Image gallery
Audio press kit/promotional record
Record gallery

Disc 3 – PSYCHO III (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

New Commentary by film critics Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
Archival audio commentary by screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue
Carnival of the Heart, a new visual essay by film scholar Alexandra Heller Nicholas
Scream of Love, a new interview with composer Carter Burwell
Watch the Guitar, archival interview with actor Jeff Fahey
Patsy’s Last Night, archival interview with actor Katt Shea
Mother’s Maker, archival interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Westmore
Body Double, archival interview with actress Brinke Stevens
Original electronic press kit
Alternate opening
Theatrical trailer
TV spot
Image gallery

Disc 4 – PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

4K (2160p) Ultra HD presentation of the film in director’s preferred 1.78:1 aspect ratio
Archival audio commentary with director Mick Garris, actor Henry Thomas, and actress Olivia Hussey
Death by Strings, new visual essay by author and critic Guy Adams on music across the franchise
The Making of Mother, an archival interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner
Behind-the-scenes footage
A Look at the Scoring of Psycho IV, archival featurette
Trailer

Disc 5 – PSYCHO IV TV Aspect Ratio (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)