The Psycho Collection Limited Edition 4K UHD Review

5 star celebration of a classic horror franchise.

The Psycho Collection brings together all four of the films from the franchise on 4K UHD for the first time.

In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock (Vertigo, North by North West) burst onto screens with the shocking and totally unexpected Psycho. It was an incredibly influential film, which defined a genre and changed the face of filmmaking. It also spawned a number of sequels, gathered together here.

This comprehensive box set is available to buy now in the UK courtesy of Arrow Video.

“We all go a little mad sometimes..”

The original Psycho, released in 1960 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, was based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch (That Hell-Bound Train) and introduced us to the character of Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins – Edge of Sanity). Norman is a shy Motel proprietor who lives in a big old house overlooking the Motel with his mother.

On the run embezzler Marion Crane (Janet Leigh – The Fog, Touch of Evil) soon finds out the hard way that all is not as it seems, as do her sister Lila (Vera Miles – The Searchers, The Wrong Man) and boyfriend Sam (John Gavin – Spartacus), who discover Norman’s grisly secret. He has killed his mother and he dresses as her and commits murder in her name, even speaking with her voice.

“Are you satisfied Doctor? Turning a murderer loose on an innocent public?…That is just legal hocus hocus and when he murders again, you will be directly responsible.”

Psycho II was released in 1983 and directed by Richard Franklin (Link, Cloak and Dagger). It’s twenty three years later and Norman Bates is finally released back into the community, despite a petition drawn up by Marion Crane’s sister Lila. He gets a job in a local cafe where he meets Mary (Meg Tilly – The Big Chill, Agnes of God), who takes a liking to him and even moves into the house.

But will being back at the Motel send him back to his old ways again, and is everyone who they appear to be?

“Jeesus, I just asked you a couple of normal questions. You’d think I accused you of murder or something. Hey look, it’s none of my business. If you wanna play mystery lady, that’s fine by me.

Psycho III, released in 1986 and directed by Anthony Perkins himself, brings a new group of strangers together at the Bates Motel. Drifter Duane (Jeff Fahey – Wyatt Earp, The Lawnmower Man) takes a job at the Motel and disgraced Nun Maureen (Diana Scarwid – What Lies Beneath, Mommie Dearest) finds her way there to stay.

As Norman begins to fall for her, what will mother think of him having a young lady stay with him and will the presence of reporter Tracy (Roberta Maxwell – The Changeling, The Postman) push him over the edge?

“I called because the focus of your show tonight is what makes boys kill their mothers, but so far your guests haven’t given any insight into that. I thought maybe I could help.”

Psycho IV: The Beginning was released in 1990, directed by Mick Garris (Desperation, Sleepwalkers) and bringing the franchise to a close. Now rehabilitated and living with his girlfriend Connie (Donna Mitchell – Boiler Room), Norman Bates is perfectly happy until one day she tells him she is pregnant, he wanted the Bates line to die with him.

He calls a late night radio show hosted by Fran Ambrose (CCH Pounder – Avatar, Home Again) with guest Dr. Leo Richmond (Warren Frost – Twin Peaks), a specialist in boys who commit matricide. Over the course of the evening, he relives his strange relationship with his mother and his previous crimes and as they gradually realise who they are talking to, they must try to talk him out of killing again.

“A son is a poor substitute for a lover.”

This is a fantastic collection, with the films looking their absolute best and great soundtracks too. Packed with special features, this box set is a comprehensive guide to all things Psycho, as well as being an excellent watch. It’s great to see everything assembled in one place and this one will grace the collection of any horror buff.

The Psycho Collection is available to buy now on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray.

LIMITED EDITION 4K ULTRA HD CONTENTS
-4K (2160p) Ultra HD 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, Psycho II and Psycho III, lossless mono 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 (UHD)
– 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 (UHD)
– New audio commentary by Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
– 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 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
– The house on the hill
– Personality profile: Anthony Perkins
– Personality profile: Richard Franklin
– Still crazy after all these years
– Behind the scenes
– Anthony Perkins interview
– Vera Miles interview
– Janet Leigh interview
-Jerry Goldsmith demo
-Trailers & TV spots
– Image Gallery
– Audio Press Kit/promotional record (plays during almost the entire film)
– Record gallery

DISC 3 -PSYCHO III (UHD)
– New Commentary by Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
– 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, an interview with actor Jeff Fahey
-Patsy’s Last Night, an interview with actor Katt Shea
-Mother’s Maker, an interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Westmore
-Body Double, an interview with actress Brinke Stevens
– Original Electronic Press Kit
– Alternate Opening
-Theatrical Trailer
-TV spot
-Image Gallery

DISC 4 – PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (UHD)
-4K (2160p) Ultra HD presentation of the film in director’s preferred 1.78:1 aspect ratio
-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 archive interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner
-Behind-The-Scenes Footage
-A Look at the Scoring of Psycho IV, an archive featurette
-Theatrical Trailer

DISC 5 – BONUS: PSYCHO IV TV Aspect Ratio (UHD – LTD EDITION EXCLUSIVE)
-4K (2160p) Ultra HD presentation of the film in 1.33:1 TV aspect ratio