Psycho II - A Movie Review

Let this be a lesson to never mess with Norman Bates.

Psycho II is a 1983 sequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s successful film in 1960. Twenty-Two years after the events from the first film, Norman Bates is released from the mental institution. Returning home, events soon start repeating as Norman is convinced that he has gone mad again.

Psycho II is a worthy sequel to the original. While its story is strong, cinematically it doesn’t capture Alfred Hitchcock’s noteworthy directing style. If you’re looking for a film that expresses the downfalls of messing with anyone who is mentally ill, Psycho II enforces it.

Anthony Perkins will always be Norman Bates. There is no escaping the iconic name. Perkins captured the emotion and instability of Norman’s broken psyche. Trying to be strong, the past (and people) get in the way of his recuperation. I am astounded by Perkins’ mix of drama and villainous persona.

Meg Tilly was wonderful in her performance. She could have shown more confliction though. The more I have watched this film over the years, it’s easy to see how Mary is conflicted, not knowing how to act at certain times. Despite tensions between them off-camera, Tilly and Perkins worked well together, particularly in one emotional sequence.

Gaining a more prominent role, Vera Miles returns as Lila Crane. She is another highlight of the film. I didn’t like how docile she was made to be in the original film. She has more emotional resentment which we never saw even when learning about the demise of her sister from the first film.

To me, Miles never felt like she embraced her character in the original possibly due to direction. The resentment that Lila bears towards Norman has changed her outlook. If anything, Psycho II is a lesson that you should never mess with anybody’s mental illness.

Performances are strong in Psycho II. Other credits include the talents of Robert Loggia, Dennis Franz, High Gillin, Claudia Bryer, and Lee Garrington. Look out for an appearance by Oz Perkins, Anthony’s Perkin’s real-life son. The ensemble did a good job bringing out the mysterious tone in this story. They observed the story very closely.

Psycho II still holds the same mysterious tension. The original house set was used for the sequel. I was impressed with how well the film holds up with continuity. It feels like the same universe, unlike how some films decide to change story elements or sets.

The first time I watched Psycho II, I was kept guessing until the very end. Just because it doesn’t fit the same atmosphere as an Alfred Hitchcock film, it still succeeded at building tension. The script was crafted with a mix of tension and even small comedic moments. The pacing is done well, putting in original imaginative twists.

Richard Franklin had a lot of his shoulders as a director to a sequel that was a worldwide success in its time. The camera angles were excellent. He succeeded in building a creepy atmosphere. He bore the right emotion, continuing Norman’s story. We understand more of who Norman Bates is.

One complaint that I had was that the film was too long. Important details were forgotten in the story. Whether it was to showcase how far gone Norman was, I think he could have figured out certain plot points on his own. I’m sure some viewers will have mixed reactions over the ending, but it takes multiple watches to understand what is at play.

I recommend that you find Psycho II and watch it. It lives up to the original. The film is worth your watch.