Psycho II (1983)

Director:

Richard Franklin

Writers:

Tom Holland (written by)
Robert Bloch (characters created by)

Release Date:

3 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

It's 22 years later, and Norman Bates is finally coming home

Plot:

After twenty-two years of psychiatric care, Norman Bates attempts to return to a life of solitude... but the specters of his crimes -- and his mother -- continue to haunt him.

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Mysterious Death | Stabbed In The Mouth | Beaten To Death | Psycho

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Anthony Perkins	...	Norman Bates
Vera Miles	...	Lila Loomis
Meg Tilly	...	Mary Loomis
Robert Loggia	...	Dr. Bill Raymond
Dennis Franz	...	Warren Toomey
Hugh Gillin	...	Sheriff John Hunt
Claudia Bryar	...	Mrs. Emma Spool
Robert Alan Browne	...	Ralph Statler
Ben Hartigan	...	Judge
Lee Garlington	...	Myrna
Tim Maier	...	Josh
Jill Carroll	...	Kim
Chris Hendrie	...	Deputy Pool
Tom Holland	...	Deputy Norris
Michael Lomazow	...	D.A.

Also Known As:

Psicosis 2 (USA: Spanish title)
Psycose 2 (USA: Spanish title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Spain:13 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: ['Richard Franklin']sitting playing a video game in the diner that Norman works in.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Norman drops his suitcase, his clothes fall out of it twice between shots as it rolls downstairs.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Norman Bates: Mother, oh God, Mother. Blood! Blood!
Judge: The basis of the staff report Norman Bates is judged returned to sanity and is ordered released at will.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Psycho Legacy (2009)

Soundtrack:

Piano Sonata Op. 13 'Pathétique'

Surprisingly good

Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is released after over 20 years in an asylum, supposedly cured. He goes back to Bates Motel...but then he starts seeing his dead mother again, gets phone calls from her and the murders start up again. Is it Norman going crazy again or is someone trying to drive him to it?

A very good, intricately plotted sequel to Hitchcock's classic. This could have been a disaster, but it isn't. The plot has many twists and turns and moves quickly. Director Richard Franklin does an excellent directing job, setting up some very eerie shots and duplicating some of Hitchcock's shots from the original. Perkins is just OK (he should have toned down on the twitches) and Meg Tilly is her usual blank self but there is a strong supporting cast including Vera Miles and Robert Loggia. One minor problem--was it necessary to get so violent and bloody at the end (although it's restrained for a 1980s horror film)? Still, worth catching. Great final shot too.