Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Mick Garris

Writers (WGA):

Robert Bloch (character)
Joseph Stefano (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You've met Norman... now meet mother.

Plot:

Anthony Perkins (Norman Bates) returns for this "prequel", once more having mommy trouble. This time...

Plot Keywords:

Prequel | Mother | Serial Killer | Neurotic | Sequel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Anthony Perkins	...	Norman Bates
Henry Thomas	...	Young Norman Bates
Olivia Hussey	...	Norma Bates
CCH Pounder	...	Fran Ambrose
Warren Frost	...	Dr. Leo Richmond
Donna Mitchell	...	Connie Bates
Thomas Schuster	...	Chet Rudolph
Sharen Camille	...	Holly
Bobbi Evors	...	Gloria
John Landis	...	Mike Calveccio
Kurt Paul	...	Raymond Linette
Louis Crume	...	George Emeric
Cynthia Garris	...	Ellen Stevens
Doreen Chalmers	...	Mrs. Lane
Alice Hirson	...	Mother (voice)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and sensuality.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Spain:18 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2006) | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Orlando, Florida, USA

Company:

Smart Money Productions

Trivia:

The interior of mother's bedroom is slightly different from the sets in the previous Psycho films. In the film, the room had a bathroom and an extra closet.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During some scenes in the kitchen, movie lights reflect in the window while Norman is on the phone.

Quotes:

Norman: All that faith and no potatoes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Psycho Legacy (2009)

Not as good as Psycho or Psycho II, but good enough.

My father first rented this film in the summer of 1991. I was about ten years old when I watched it. I didn't understand most of it, but I liked it. I just re-watched it within the last few months as result of a sparked interest in both the movies and the books.

I liked how this film dove into Norman Bates's troubled past (that of course is an understatement). That was probably the best aspect of the film, not much else. I liked how Anthony Perkins once again reprised his signature role as Norman Bates after suffering that horrid humiliation from Psycho III. Olivia Hussey was wicked in this movie as Norman's mother. She must have taken lessons from Faye Dunaway in her role as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. The way she yelled at him and stripped poor Norman of his manhood was just awful. But yet, she managed to stay human in certain scenes of the movie and not be such a demon. Henry Thomas did somewhat a good job playing Norman Bates as a teenager, but his performance lacked the geeky, child-like charm that Anthony Perkins had in the original film.

As for the rest of the actors, well, most of them aren't worth mentioning. Except for Thomas Schuster, who played Chet Rudolph, Norma Bates's midnight cowboy. His character was very cocky and rude, the kind of guy you love to hate. The kind of man mom would bring home and expect you to call dad, which in Norman's case was true. But that never came to pass, if you know the story line.

Director Mick Garris is no Alfred Hitchcock. He is no Richard Franklin either. But he does manage to deliver a good addition to the Psycho series. Not as good as Psycho or Psycho II, but good enough.