Skip to content

PSYCHO II

Written By:

John Higgins
psycho2

Arrow Video fans certainly have much to get excited about at present. The imminent release of a brand-new 4K restoration of John Carpenter’s classic remake of The Thing is one reason. Another is the new July 2017 Arrow Blu-Ray re-issue of Richard Franklin’s 1983 sequel Psycho II.

 

At first glance, it was always a tall order and major challenge to see whether anyone could match Hitchcock’s 1960 chiller; whether it could be consistent with the original’s level of shock and surprise after such a long hiatus, whilst bringing it in line with the Halloween / Friday The 13th crowd. Happily, even thirty-four years after its theatrical debut, Psycho II transcends expectations and is one of the classic exceptions to the rule of diminishing returns in sequels.

 

Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is deemed fit for society twenty-two years after the dark and tragic events of the original film by a local court, despite the objections of Lila Loomis (Vera Miles) – the sister of Janet Leigh’s character in the original – who has mounted a petition to stop him from being released. He goes back to his motel and house and takes a job at a local diner, where he meets waitress Mary (Meg Tilly). His doctor. Bill Raymond (Robert Loggia) helps him adjust as best he can, whilst advising the local sheriff to keep an eye on him.

 

However, it isn’t long before the past starts to play with his mind-set, with notes being left under phones in the house and on the order wheel at the diner. His motel has other issues, with the present manager, Warren Toomey (Dennis Franz) making a more open policy on guests to increasing resentment and objections…..

 

Tom Holland’s script keeps a compact and playful leash on both the characters and the audience – and all the key motifs that defined the original film are there, right down to the film opening with the immortal shower scene, a key set-up for what is to follow.

 

In his sleeve notes for the soundtrack to Halloween, John Carpenter stated that Psycho was ‘the film that inspired Halloween’ and it is a logical progression that Dean Cundey should be the person to have laid the canvas on director Franklin’s film. Like The Fog, Psycho II is richly and beautifully shot, adding to the air of unease. Perkins was never going to escape his role as Bates, a fact Hitchcock lovingly stated when he claimed he ruined Perkins’ career through Psycho. Jerry Goldsmith’s music is faultless, one of several great scores he did throughout the 1980s, and done around the same time he was nominated for another Oscar for his work on Roger Spottiswoode’s Under Fire (highly recommended if you can get hold of the CD).

 

After you’ve enjoyed the film, you can look forward to a host of special features on the disc, including writer Tom Holland’s audio commentary, archive interviews and press kit material and – if you are lucky enough to buy the film on its first release – a collector’s booklet with new writing on the film and a reprint of the Psycho II chapter from Richard Franklin’s unpublished biography.

 

All in all, Arrow Video have a gold-plated winner with Psycho II.

PSYCHO II / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: RICHARD FRANKLIN / SCREENPLAY: TOM HOLLAND / STARRING: ANTHONY PERKINS, VERA MILES, MEG TILLY, ROBERT LOGGIA, DENNIS FRANZ / RELEASE DATE: 31ST JULY

John Higgins

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More