In the same way that great songs are overplayed on the radio, resulting in total saturation, this film was mercilessly marketed in the UK upon release - so much so that when I saw the film it was a total damp squib. They were even touting it as the scariest film ever made. Great work by the promotion guys ;-), but it killed it for me upon first viewing.
Shame, because after the dust had settled, it was a pretty creepy film. Still think that Brian Cox's Hannibal Lector in Manhunter was much creepier than Hopkins (no disrespect to Hopkins, though).