Psycho II
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Movie Reviews of Psycho II
Movie Review: throw out that Good Times release...
Summary: 5 Stars
Although Universal's release gives you nothing in the way of extras, widescreen TV owners get a much needed 1:85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer with Dolby 4.0 surround for a true home theater experience.Movie Review: Psycho 2
Summary: 5 Stars
Anthony Perkins returns as Norman Bates. Back to The Bates Motel we go folks. What happens in this film is not as I expected. Great stuff and another exceptional performance by Mr. Perkins.Movie Review: slasher film
Summary: 5 Stars
Part 2 is just like the first one Mr. Perkins is the MAN Great movie add to stack of one to get where is MR. NORMAN BATESSSS.Movie Review: A surprisingly good sequel to Htichcock's classic "Psycho"
Summary: 4 Stars
The idea of doing a sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's classic "Pyscho" is not a stupid idea. Doing a shot for shot remake of the original is a stupid idea. But the idea of Norman Bates coming home 22 years later having been declared cured and released from the mental institution where we assume he never even hurt a fly during all that time, is certainly an interesting idea. The only other character it would be interesting to see when they got back out and tried to pick up where they left off from would be Brigid O'Shaughnessy from "The Maltese Falcon," and that is never go to happen (I claim dibs on the first draft).
Anyhow, Norman has been released and is working at a local diner in town, where he makes friends with Mary Samuels (Meg Tilly), a young waitress. But Lila Loomis (Vera Miles), the sister of Marion Crane, who was murdered in the shower long ago, is not happy that Norman is out and about. She predicts nothing good can come of his release and sure enough Norman starts finding notes from his mother at work and sees her sitting in the window of the Bates mansion. Then people around town start dying and everyone is looking at Norman, who insists he is not killing anybody. After all, he is cured. But who are you going to believe?
Director Richard Franklin ("Road Games") and writer Tom Holland ("Class of 1984") seem fully aware of what can happen to those who try to ride the coattails of a classic horror film, because "Psycho II" is a fairly intelligent script. The key is that our sympathies are with Norman Bates. After all, we know from the first film that he really was nuts and that it was "Mother" who did the killing. If she is gone, then he deserves a break and for one of the few times in a splatter flick we are hoping that the original psychotic mass murderer did not do it.
Franklin can at least claim Hitchcock as a mentor, having struck up a friendship as a USC film student with the director in the late 1960s. The fact that Franklin got both Perkins and Miles to sign on is a testament that the script is not an embarrassment. Also, the Meg Tilly part was originally offered to Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh's daughter, but the "Halloween" star was tired of being the queen of the slasher movies and declined. But Franklin actually does a pretty good job as director of this film and whatever objects we might have to the idea, there is less to be offended by in the execution.
I would strongly urge that you go back and watch "Psycho" again before you watch this sequel, not because you need to remember any of the key details of the classic film, but because refamiliarizing yourself with the shots and dialogue of the original will allow you to appreciate how Franklin incorporates key ones into his film, but with an interesting twist. "Psycho II," to my surprise, an intelligent sequel. While "Psycho" is a 5 star film on its own plateau that relegates all other splatter flicks to the lower ground, this sequel is not an embarrassment, and what a surprise that turns out to be. Just come to this one with an open mind or not at all.
Movie Review: Psycho H20
Summary: 4 Stars
Without viewing a single frame of Psycho 2, I think one could safely assume the movie isn't even in the same league as the original. First off, it's a sequel, and second, a sequel to one of the greatest suspense films of all time, a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. But if you come to grips with that right up front and don't get all Leonard Maltin-ish about things, you'll find a pretty good movie here if you view it on it's own terms. Now, Psycho isn't a movie that really seemed to cry out for a sequel, and you kinda get the feeling that Universal wanted to get their fingers in the slasher movie pie that was so popular at the time. Psycho has always been considered the grandaddy of the slasher genre, so why not? But aside from one scene that could have been lifted from a Friday the 13th film, this is not a slasher film-this is a psychological suspense film all the way. Psycho author Robert Bloch wrote a novel called Psycho 2 around the same time period, but this film isn't based on his book. His book, though very good, wouldn't have translated very well to the screen considering the big "twist" at the end takes advantage of the fact that the reader can't literally see the characters and has to imagine them. Great book though, worth reading. The movie deals with Norman's release and his trying to adjust back to normal life back in his old house and working the motel. Plus he gets a job at a diner and meets Meg Tilly, who he develops a close relationship with(not the kind you're thinking, get your mind out of the gutter!). Vera Miles is back and she's a bit pissed at Norman being free. Before you can say, "twelve cabins, twelve vacancies" the bodies start piling up. This is where the movie becomes pretty effective because it throws alot of possibilities and red herrings your way. One moment you think it's Norman, the next you're not so sure. The movie does a very good job of keeping you in the dark on just who is doing all of this. Plus it's got a great twist near the end. Anthony Perkins can still play this role to the hilt. He wasn't just phoning in the role for a paycheck, he is still Norman Bates, as good as he ever was. Even if you happen to hate this film you cannot deny that if anything works in it, it's Perkins. The man was fantastic. The always enjoyable Robert Loggia is onhand as Norman's psychologist, but he's not given much to do. Miles is adequate. Tilly's not bad either, but she is awfully damn cute. But in the end it's Perkins dominates this movie, no doubt about it. Time has kind of made people forget about this movie. Sure folks are aware it exists, but for some reason I think people are under the impression the movie is really bad or something, even if they've never seen it. It deserves to be seen again, that's for sure. Everyone needs a reminder on just how good Perkins was at this role. Vince Vaughn ain't fit to shine his shoes. Highly recommended.