365+ movies in 365 Days: Day 176 - Psycho II

Psycho II was made for mass market consumption. Some considered it outrageous that Universal even contemplated making a sequel to one of Alfred Hitchcock's films, especially the classic Psycho.

In the end by recruiting Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles to return to the roles of Norman Bates and Lila Crane Loomis, director Richard Franklin fashioned an surprisingly good film that follows the original in story, if not mood and tone.

Franklin carefully included homages to the original film, and to Hitchcock himself with carefully arranged camera shots and set pieces.

Perkins gives a very credible performance as Norman Bates, somewhat cured from his insanity, but still full of tics and and not quite normal. Miles gives Lila a passionate anger that has spilled over into obsession. In addition Meg Tilly, Robert loggia, Dennis Franz and Claudia Bryar round out the cast.

The film takes place twenty two years after the events in Psycho. Norman has been declared sane by the state of California and returns home to pick up his life in the big house on the hill and his sad motel. Lila Crane, now Lila Loomis is vehement about keeping Norman behind bars because he will kill again.

Not long after returning home strange things begin to happen. Is Norman's mother reaching out from the grave or his Norman up to his old tricks again. The thriller gets a bit convoluted but has a nice twist ending.

The film is in color and the murders are more graphic than the original. The film is accompanied by a nice moody score by Jerry Goldsmith, that borrows from Bernard Hermann, but stands on its own.

Universal went on to make two more sequels and a failed TV pilot, but Psycho II is the best of the lot and while it pales in comparison to Psycho it is a neat little thriller by itself.

At the Movie House rating *** stars