Like some, I don’t think Psycho should be sequeled. However, this is really a very good follow-up. And if you want to capture an authentic feel in a somewhat Hitchcock way, watch in black and white. I think you might be amazed at the visual resemblance to the original, enhancing the story even more.
Not as a plug, for those who watch on a large PC monitors, there’s a free player called VideoLAN (VLC), whereby you can remove color and tweak the brightness and contrast.
When Anthony Perkins directed Psycho III he wanted it to be black and white. But he was only allowed to use black and white for the flashback with Mrs. Spool.
shareThank You, I wasn’t aware of that. What prompted me to change to B/W, was Alfred Hitchcock chose (I assume) to go in that direction when he could have used color. So, I am thinking the follow-up would want to maintain the same ambiance. I am not a director, rather an artist and the coloring didn’t feel right (even though it wasn’t bad), it would not have been my style had I directed the second installment of a prized film.
shareAt the beginning, after they showed the original shower scene in black and white, I thought it was a nice touch how they faded in the color during the music and the opening credits. It symbolized the transition from the past to the present.
shareYou're correct and I understood their concept and what intentions were meant. However, I enjoyed it much better in the sense I experienced a more rhythmic follow-through with a black and white visual. The transition to color seemed to rip apart the magic of the original story. It's just my opinion and personal preference.
shareI watched The Color Purple in black and white once, as Spielberg had the notion to film it this way with Gordon Willis, before deciding it was too esoteric for a film with a color in the title. For black and white to work the most effectively, it does really need to filmed in b&w, due to the lighting and shadings\shadows that would have been used in the principal photography. Had Psycho II been filmed in black & white, it would have looked very different, than just turning down the color on your tv. The same goes for my b&w Color Purple experience, which was still fine too watch, but I did miss the vivid color that was represented by the photography. Psycho II was also a selling point because it was filmed in color, as opposed to the classic original. It was meant to be in color.
Don't eat the whole ones!...Those are for the guests. 🍪
I've never seen II in black and white but I admit, my curiosity is peaked to do so!
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