Psycho II [R]

22 years ago Norman Bates murdered Marion Crane and was committed to an institution. Now he’s been declared sane and released to go back to his life of solitude in the house on the hill, much to the horror and dismay of Lila Loomis who believes that his insanity was no alibi to his actions. But when Norman gets back to his home he becomes confused again as the horrors of his past crimes and his mother come back to haunt him. 

Before you get too excited and rush down to your local Blockbuster to get a copy, I don’t actually think Psycho II is available on DVD. I watched this dodgy, pixel quality and all, in segments on YouTube. If you’re really that keen to see it, I suggest you follow suit. I have to admit that I wasn’t so jazzed about the idea of a sequel to Hitchcock’s horrific classic, especially twenty-three years after the iconic shower scene took place. But Psycho II wasn’t all that bad surprisingly. I still maintain that it should not be existence on basic principal, but the film itself (as a film) is actually rather compelling. 

22 years ago Norman Bates murdered Marion Crane and was committed to an institution. Now he’s been declared sane and released to go back to his life of solitude in the house on the hill, much to the horror and dismay of Lila Loomis who believes that his insanity was no alibi to his actions. But when Norman gets back to his home he becomes confused again as the horrors of his past crimes and his mother come back to haunt him. 

In terms of the story, this movie is a rather good display of irony and playing on. By “playing on” I mean that it sort of does what Hitchcock used to do in that it plays to the primal parts of the human mind. From the end of the original Psycho we’re left on a somewhat flimsy note as to whether Norman can be cured or not. Psycho II plays on that note and that’s where the story’s clout of irony comes into play because we are convinced that Norman is always going to be the guilty one. As it turns out, this movie walks down along the lines of Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte in that there is a very twisted and ironic story that comes into play halfway through. I don’t want to say too much more for fear of giving it all away, you’ll have to track it down if you’re curious. 

Anthony Perkins reprises his role of Norman Bates and delivers just as memorable and eerie performance as he does in the first film. I found it hard at first because he looks so much older, but of course the film is set over 20 years later so it would only be natural for Norman to be over 50. It’s sad to think that Anthony Perkins would be dead in less than ten years after the completion of this film. 

Starring Vera Miles, Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia, Dennis Franz, Lee Garlington, and Claudia Bryar who brings a huge dramatic twist right at the very end, Psycho II was a surprisingly compelling movie filled with gore, horror, dramas, twisted plans, and plenty of suspense. It’s actually rather creepy in a lot of ways, but I still maintain that they should not have made a sequel.