What in the name of goodness was George Sluizer thinking when he remade this film for American audiences?

He took the things which set the original version apart — the mystery, the philosophy, the surprisingly complex characterization, the haunting ending — and turned it all into just another psycho killer movie.

If the original wasn’t so great, it would be easy to overlook a mediocre offering like this. But since there is a precedent — this movie watches like a 109 minute insult. I wish I could blot it out of my memory.