MovieChat Forums > Santa Sangre (1990) Discussion > Has anyone thought of Hitchcock's 'Psych...

Has anyone thought of Hitchcock's 'Psycho'?

posted 17 years ago by thefuture11
6 replies | jump to latest

Is it just me or Fenix's story somewhat resembles the story of Norman Bates? I mean they are both haunted by the wills of their dead mothers, in a sense even possessed by them. Their mothers` wills guide the actions of both characters from beyond the grave (or so they think), instructing them to kill other females that might be threatening to their sick bond. Both Norman and Fenix try to fight against their mothers` wills, but they fail. I just think that in a way, Santa Sangre is a surreal version on Psycho. However, Santa Sangre has a somewhat happy ending, as Fenix eventually gained his freedom, whilst Norman became his mother completely.

[–] GodandWin 17 years ago

I've always considered Santa Sangre to be somewhat a Psycho on 'shrooms, so yeah I agree with you.

[–] torpedoboy4 15 years ago

I was definitely thinking "Psycho". Jodorowsky quoted it more than once in the film. He even finds the strong woman in the shower after we see her silhouette. Also, his choice of murder weapon is a blade which is very Norman Bates.

[–] gavriloprinciple 15 years ago

Yes, definitely. As others wrote there are knowing hints like the staircase. Of course unlike Norman, Fenix is freed in the end. But of course it isn't just "remake" ;)

And that blade is interesting because also italians got it from there, and they also inspired this movie (Claudio Argento was even producing this).

"zoom back camera"

[–] freudified_n_funkified 15 years ago

I don't think there was ever any hiding of the Psycho influence, but Jodorowsky has name checked a few other influenes as well. He inverts elements of Night of the Living Dead, The Invisible Man and The Unknown, and incorporates ideas and influences from Freaks. He was inspired by 80s horror gems like Brain Damage, Evil Dead 2, Hellraiser, Street Trash and Videodrome and Santa Sangre acts as a nice hybird between the gory body/mind horror of the 80s and the misunderstood monster mentality of the 30s horror film.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Not only does the twisted mother-son story resemble "Psycho," the description on the VHS box drives the point home: "Not since 'Psycho' has a story riveted our attention to the depravity of a mother/son union gone awry."

[–] [deleted] a year ago

A boy's best friend is his mother.