WHY? FOR what reason on earth was it deemed necessary to re-make Hitchcock's seminal 1960 slasher, one of the acknowledged classics of the century? For the obvious reason, of course: money. The outcry over his project hasn't deterred Gus Van Sant from proceeding with it, and while he can be credited on one level for leaving the original relatively untouched (it is practically a scene-for-scene replica) he stands guilty of robbing it of all its class and humour. Anne Heche assumes the 'victim' role, without displaying any hitherto-untapped talent - ubiquitous as her presence seems these days, I doubt if there's a more overrated actress in circulation. Vince Vaughn fills the Bates role, but not to the extent of doing it any justice. Moore, Mortensen and Macy are wasted in this context, and though it's possible to imagine Hitchcock approving of the gloriously cheesy recent remake of A Perfect Murder, it's reasonable to assume that this one would have had him reaching for the revolver.