What do we think of the series as a whole? I rewatched "Psycho II" this evening and forgot how much fun it was. There is some iffy dubbing throughout and both Perkins' and Meg Tilly's performances vacillate in quality, but it's well-crafted overall and pretty damn good for being a sequel made nearly a quarter-century on. I remember "Psycho III" being quite fun as well, and a bit more whacky. "Psycho IV: The Beginning" was a bit of a mess if I remember correctly. It's honestly a bit surprising to me that they managed to squeeze as many films out of this series as they did.
I was like the second one too. But my favorite will always be Psycho. Still so good. I've been watching Alfred Hitchcock presents lately. I know he was creepy in real life. But that man was way ahead of his time.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | August 15, 2020 5:26 AM |
PSYCHO was a film series?
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | August 15, 2020 5:41 AM |
Agree, OP. Psycho II is really good, so much better than it has any right to be. I can't remember how many times I watched it before I didn't have to cover my eyes during Vera Miles' scene in the cellar. And I love the score. Jerry Goldsmith was my favorite in the 80s.
Psycho III is batshit crazy and a lot of fun. Diana Scarwid and Anthony Perkins out-twitching one another is hilarious and wonderful. At the time I wondered if the nun plot was a poke at Meg Tilly who did Agnes of God after Psycho II, knowing that Perkins and Tilly famously hated each other when they were making it.
I don't recall liking Psycho IV very much though I though young adult Henry Thomas was very cute and a decent stand-in for young Anthony Perkins. I only remember Anthony Perkins being in scenes talking on the phone and relating the story to someone.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | August 15, 2020 6:00 AM |
Love Psycho 2 and Bates Motel was great, obviously.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 20, 2020 12:15 PM |
Psycho II was a great sequel. Didn't care much for III. Henry Thomas looked so much like a teenage DJ Conner from Roseanne in part IV.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 20, 2020 2:14 PM |
II is excellent. III is terrible.
Never saw IV.
Bates motel was good until it wasn’t.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 20, 2020 2:17 PM |
I could never really stomach Bates Motel because of Norma. Vera Farmiga was way too good at playing a truly toxic person. Plus, setting Bates Motel in the modern day took away the isolation aspect of Norman's upbringing.
Psycho is still the best, despite the exposition dump at the end.
Part 2 is a good, solid movie.
Part 3 is nuts, and I've probably rewatched that one much more than Part 2 and even Part 1.
Part 4 is only good when Olivia Hussey is on screen. For some reason, unlike Farmiga's Norma, Hussey's portrayal wasn't difficult for me to watch.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 20, 2020 2:25 PM |
Part 3 is hilarious.
The old "woman" spouting lines like, "She's a whore. She's a SLUT!"
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 20, 2020 2:29 PM |
"I'll lick the stamps"
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 20, 2020 9:01 PM |
Psycho II is pretty great and I don't know how that's even possible. It has no right to be as excellent as it is, but it takes the story and characters from the original and expands upon them in such a smart, wonderful way.
Psycho III feels like Perkins wants to make an Argento or Bava film and I really enjoy it, but it's nowhere near as good as II.
Psycho IV has a few great moments and I loved Olivia Hussey as Mrs. Bates. What a great role for her and I love that they decided Mrs. Bates was going to be really hot.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 20, 2020 9:04 PM |
Did Anthony Perkins and John Gavin hook up during filming?
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 20, 2020 9:49 PM |
Only 2,3,4 were in a series. The original is a masterpiece.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 20, 2020 11:41 PM |