FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS: PSYCHO II (1983) “I Forgot to Bring Any Cu-Cutlery.”
Psycho II is nothing short of miraculous: It’s a movie carrying around the stones big enough to even attempt the impossible by following up the original Hitchcock classic 22 years later yet *spoiler alert* folks, it manages to succeed in just about every way imaginable. From the beautifully clever and twisty (not to mention twisted) script courtesy of Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child’s Play) to just a flat out all timer of a return performance by Anthony Perkins (Psycho, This One, Psycho III, Psycho IV: The Beginning), this is a sequel that knows it has something to prove. And not only does the movie step up to the plate and point to the cheap seats…
…it swings and knocks the skin off the ball before that thing flies out of the park.
That is not a hyperbolic opinion. Well, I suppose it is, but it is also highly accurate information. Without getting too deep into the plot (because this movie is just a flat out banger in terms of misdirection and surprises) here’s the gist: Organically picking up decades after the original, Norman Bates has been released from a mental institution, considered cured and safe to reenter society. Going back to his old house behind the hotel then landing a job at a nearby diner, he befriends a young waitress named Mary who is having a hard time and needs a place to stay. WELL, as luck would have it Norman has plenty of room to accommodate a house guest, which she takes him up on.
The escalating high tension this movie provides throughout its runtime begins almost immediately. Norman is seeing notes and hearing sounds once again from his (presumably) dead mother while Marion Crane’s sister Lila (a returning Vera Miles) is out for revenge after her sibling was murdered in the shower. Lila is convinced Norman will snap right back to his old ways in no time and to be honest, is not very difficult to agree with. But the drama and amazing heart of this film directly stems from Perkins’ performance and our desperate hope for his sanity. It really is an exceptional turnaround after the nightmarish events of Psycho, what with Norman now being so sympathetic and kind of our hero.
For those of you who’ve already seen this movie I’d wager you agree what an under the radar little classic it is. And for those of you who enjoyed the original and have yet to check it out, it’s likely due to dismissing it as a diminishing return cash in like the inevitable sequels following this installment became. Well, all I can say is that I genuinely envy any fan of Pyscho getting to watch this movie for the first time. In fact, I’m gonna throw it on again right now.
Oh! And try turning the color off and cranking up the contrast to watch it in black and white as a double feature right along with the original. It really works great.
