Psycho 2 on DVD (1983)

A customer from GLASGOW , 16/07/2005

A sequel to one of the most popular horror films of all time, this psychological thriller received a pleasantly surprised, positive critical reception. Anthony Perkins returns as Norman Bates, who has just been released from an insane asylum after 22 years, having been judged clinically sane by the State of California over the objections of Lila Crane Loomis (Vera Miles), sister to one of Norman's murder victims. Norman returns home to the hotel and hilltop mansion he once inhabited with his mother. As a parole condition, Norman is hired at a local diner, where he struggles to join mainstream society, despite the stares of patrons aware of his past. At the diner, Norman befriends Mary (Meg Tilly), a waitress, and it seems that he may be putting some semblance of a life back together. But then Norman begins to experience hallucinatory encounters with his long-dead mother, including a handwritten note, a phone call, and a sighting of her standing at her favorite window. Is Norman's psychosis manifesting itself again, or are old enemies attempting to drive him back into an institution? As the pressure mounts, bodies pile up, and Norman's fragile hold on normality becomes more and more tenuous.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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AJ from Middlesbrough, England , 04/04/2006

I liked this thought it was realy good would say better than the 1st in some ways.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Matti White from London, UK , 02/08/2006

I have to admit that my expectations of this film weren't very high, but it was slightly better than I had anticipated. The storyline fits in well with the original film, and there were a few interesting twists!

However, it was missing those magic Hitchcock touches that made the original such a masterpiece. I feel this could've been a much better film if Franklin had made more of an attempt to bring his own style to the film, rather than trying to be an 'imitation Hitchcock'.

It is interesting that Perkins chose to reprise his famous role as Norman Bates, although his performance here seems a little lacklustre. None of the performances really 'stood out' - and it did have something of a 'made for TV' quality to it!

In all, this film has a strong plot, but unfortunately fell into the trap of being good in theory, but poorly executed.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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Anthony from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire , 14/07/2004

can't give this 5 stars because i'm a firm believer than sequels to 5-star films (like Hitchcock's 1960 film 'Psycho') can never quite match the quality and entertainment value of the original. This is no exception to that rule, as it really drags out the whole 'mother's still alive' thing and twists it around so much it is untrue. However... if you like a bit of mystery, and you don't mind a bit of gore (because this time round we actually see stabbing!) this is a nice little 'lets play sherlock holmes' film! Anthony Hopkins delivers a fantastic performance as the now released from prison Norman Bates and Vera Miles & Meg Tilly give nice performances of the stranger mother/daughter duo out to drive Norman Crazy again! Very strange and complex story and lots of twists. Don't expect it to be action packed but i do think it's an 'unsung' cinema gem.

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