I know what you're thinking.. a sequel to one of the greatest movies ever made, done 20 years after the fact. It's sure to be a bomb. Right? Wrong.
Psycho 2 continues the story of Norman Bates, who after spending several years locked up in a mental institution after murdering several people, has been deemed fit to return to society once again. Some people, particularly Lila Loomis, the sister of Marion Crane who was murdered by Bates, disagree. After returning home, Norman soon begins to receive notes and phone calls from his "mother". Little does Norman know that Lila is behind it all, and begins to become convinced that his mother has returned from the grave and slides back down the slope of insanity. One by one, those who don't know enough to stay away from the Bates house begin to disappear.. The town sherrif becomes suspicious that Norman is up to his old tricks, but no one knows for sure..
Anthony Perkins once again was brilliant as the tormented Norman Bates, and a solid supporting cast along with tons of suspense really make the movie work. Nothing can match the original Psycho, but this is most definitely an effective sequel that's worth a watch.
Truly one of cinema's greatest sequels.
*Warning spoilers ahead!!*
More than two decades after Norman Bates terrified audiences in Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of Robert Bloch's Psycho, Psycho II made it unsafe to get in the shower once again.
It's 1983 and Norman Bates(Anthony Perkins) has spent the last twenty two years housed in a psychiatric institution, innocent of murder by virtue of insanity, the day has come for his re-introduction into society. Much to the dismay of Lila Loomis(Vera Miles), sister of original shower slashing victim Marion Crane(Janet Leigh), Norman makes his return to the ominous house on the hill and his notorious motel.
Aided by a kindly psychiatrist(Robert Loggia), Norman finds work at a diner where he meets the lovely Marie Samuels(Meg Tilly). Unknown to Norman, Marie Samuels is actually Mary Loomis-the daughter of Lila Loomis and mother and daughter have hatched an elaborate plot to drive Bates to insanity yet again.
After firing sleazy motel manager Warren Toomey(Denis Franz), Bates goodheartedly invites Marie to move in with him and sets about re-opening the Bates Motel. Soon Norman begins receiving notes and phone calls from his deceased mother and the body count begins to rise yet again.
It is a rarity that a sequel lives up to its inspiration, especially when that original film was helmed by suspense master Alfred Hitchcock, but Psycho II is a worthy sequel indeed. While staying true to the original, the sequel nonetheless does manage to introduce some of the traditional slasher film elements that had become so prevalent in the early eighties, namely nudity and heightened graphic violence.
The film is aided greatly by a stellar cast, Meg Tilly in particular is effective as the cunning love interest who develops genuine feelings for Bates. Anthony Perkins has created the silver screen's most sympathetic psycho in Norman bates, while other film lunatics murder for the sake of killing, Bates is a product of his troubled childhood. Perkins lends tremendous depth and empathy to his character and should be remembered as the truly gifted actor that he was. Vera Miles returns from the original also and does a wonderful job, as do Robert Loggia and Denis Franz.
The true star of this film however is the cinematography which is excellent, the Bates house in particular is rendered especially sinister through the use of unusual angles. In terms of cinematography, Psycho II is very beautiful to look at.
It should be mentioned that this review pertains to the Universal studios dvd of Psycho II as I have not seen the discontinued Goodtimes version. Universal should have put more effort into the dvd for this outstanding entry in the Psycho series, a documentary or commentary track would have been a nice touch when the wealth of extras the original Psycho received in its dvd presentation is considered. Psycho II on the other hand is essentially bare bones with the exception of a brief trailer, this lack of extras is reflected in the low list price of the dvd.
The cover art is actually quite nice and incorporates elements of the original theatrical poster, a vast improvement over the abysmal cut and paste job Goodtimes provided for their version.
Lastly, both the audio and video is very solid. The colours are incredibly vibrant and the print used is near pristine.
Psycho II is a must see film that does justice to its inspiration. With the combination of low price and excellent presentation, Universal has served up a great addition to anyone's dvd library. Psycho II was followed by two inferior sequels and a terrible tv-movie entitled, Bates Motel.
Anthony Perkins make sit work. Film very suspensful.
Psycho is a classic and no film can measure up to it in the slasher dept not even Halloween, This sequel has Norman bATES being released from prison after 22 years. he has ben brain washed of all his memories. He does not remmeber his mother or the murders, He is ashell but slightly neurotic and scary one. Lila Loomis Marion Cranes sisiter wants Norman back in prison. fUNNY how so manpeople want nORMAN TO GO CRAZY THAT THRY END UP DOIGN SOME pretyy sick things, You never really know until the ned who the killer is. The cinematagrophy and acting is good all around.
At last--a great American movie available on video for the first time in its original aspect ratio. For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Janet Leigh - Anthony Perkins DVD Release Date: Released the 27 May 1998 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Jack sholder's 80's classic "ALONE IN THE DARK" is a unique slasher gem with some real substance to it! An intelligent scary film with a great little twist & only one weakness keeping it from being flawless & thats the unrealistic,un-emotional,overacting,bad dialog haveing,useless,annoying little blonde girl!(if she had any more dialog it may have ruined the movie!) With that said Martin Landau is truly excellent & scary as hell as The Preacher! This one is a horror fan must! More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Martin Landau DVD Release Date: Released the 13 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of the science fiction classic about a scientist who accidentally swaps body parts with a fly is both smart and terrifying: an allegory for the awful processes of slow death and a monster movie with a tragic spin. Jeff Goldblum gives a masterful performance as a sweet, nerdy scientist whose romance with a writer (Geena Davis) makes him more fully alive. Next thing you know, a tiny oversight in an experiment causes him to transmogrify, gradually, into something more like an insect than a human. This is Cronenberg (Scanners, Videodrome) country, so expect The Fly to be a gross-out, but in the way that disease corrupts the body and can make a loved one unrecognizable on every level. This is one of Cronenberg's best films, and certainly one... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jeff Goldblum - Geena Davis Director(s): David Cronenberg DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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"Hammer Horror Series" presents some of the studios best films from the early sixties period, though they might not be the most familiar to Hammer fans. A few, in fact, might come with baggage attached, but this collection dispells some of that baggage. In particular, Hammer's "Phantom of the Opera" has suffered more abuse over the years than any other of its films. The hard truth is, it's pretty good. The reason it has such a bum reputation might be because most people first saw it on television, which seriously impaired it. In it's proper aspect ratio, and with the extra scenes filmed for American TV left out, it's really pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. The biggest liability with the film are the horrendous opera sequences. "Evil of Frankenstein" has similarly been... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Herbert Lom - Heather Sears Director(s): Terence Fisher DVD Release Date: Released the 06 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Val Lewton's name is synonymous with the subtlest, most mysterious brand of horror filmmaking in Hollywood's golden age, and the nine horror classics he produced at RKO between 1942 and 1946 constitute the most remarkable cycle of creativity in B-movie history. (For the record, the Lewton/RKO legacy also includes two non-horror entries, Youth Runs Wild and Mademoiselle Fifi.)
Before becoming a film producer, the Russian-born Lewton was a prolific writer of pulp fiction, nonfiction, and a couple of pornographic novels. He also worked for years as assistant to David O. Selznick, a legendary producer with a distinctive personal signature--and a flair for grandiosity Lewton himself never emulated. It's ever so revealing that, on Selznick's Gone With the Wind, it was... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Boris Karloff DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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