The Story of Psycho II (1983) - Review & Retrospective
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ค. 2020
- I tell the story behind one of horror cinema's greatest - and often overlooked - sequels: 1983's "PSYCHO II". I delve deep into its development, production, and legacy. Directed by Richard Franklin. Starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Meg Tilly and Robert Loggia.
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FYI: At around 40 minutes I use a picture of an older Tippi Hedren instead of Vera Miles. Not sure what I was smoking when I made that mistake.
Same as me loving this review mate. ;)
Because your video is so flawless I n every other way. I, for one, forgive you. This is a beautiful love letter to one of my favourite horror films. 🙏🏻❤️
We all go a little mad sometimes
So well researched and informative. It gave me a new appreciation of this film. Can't you edit in Miss Miles' late-age photo?
Walter's blue meth
Anthony Perkins is a legend, this score is extremely beautiful, the cinematography is awesome. Psycho II is one of my favorite movies ever
Psycho II is a criminally underrated masterpiece.
I fuckin loved Psycho II and Psycho III.
@@flightofthebumblebee9529 same! N still do I watch it religiously
As good as it is it can't measure up to the masterpiece that was Psycho.
It's a very good movie. A more than worthy sequel. But a masterpiece? 🤔
I love it I just wish Vera Miles had a different fate in it lol
I felt sorry for Norman in this movie when he was trying to calm "his mother" down while he was being stabbed
yeah that got me too rip anthony perkins
It's also tragic, because these two characters had grown so fond of each other (with Norman, it might have been love, but for Mary, more sympathy; maybe even maternal), and now Lila's scheme, and Emma's killings, caused everything to spiral out of control. This film is like a mixture of mystery, thriller, black comedy, and drama. The scene between Norman and Mary in the bedroom is incredibly heartbreaking.
Me too
One of those perfect sequels ever made, RIP Anthony Perkins + Robert Loggia + Jerry Goldsmith + Richard Franklin
Robert Loggia
Very Miles, too,,
after ALIENS yeah ..
Gregory Jenkins Vera Miles is alive. She is about to have a birthday on August 23rd. She’ll be 91.😊 I was sad about John Gavin’s passing in 2018.
@@Stevesk0011 ups yeah Robert Loggia
These documentaries are excellent. You have a natural gift for narration.
Thank you! I'm always working on it.
I absolutely loved the ending shot with Norman at the top of the stairs leading up to the house with Mrs. Bates silhouette in the window of the house.
Yes! So iconic and creepy.
Psycho II is amazing from beginning to end. Perfectly cast, perfect shot, awesome script, soundtrack, set design, and can't understate just how phenomenal Anthony Perkins is as Normal Bates trying to keep his fragile psyche together.
I have that image on a t-shirt I bought at Universal FL in 1994. Still wear it
Me too!
Fuck yes that was the perfect ending to a perfect film start to finish.
Wow, this could be titled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Psycho II But Were Afraid to Ask.” Seriously, great job with this; you sure researched and presented the info in a very enjoyable form!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you.
Psycho II is a truly great film that both stands on it's own and also has the honour of being one of the best sequels ever made, especially in the horror genre. Excellent video, thank you.
Ironically, this was my introduction to Psycho. My mom, who was a big Hitchcock fan, rented this and that it was better than expected.
That seems to be the consensual opinion of everyone who's seen Psycho II. before watching the film: "What a terrible idea, this is just a cheap cash grab on the slasher mania". After watching Psycho II: "Holy crap this movie was awesome!"
Perkins was very talented. He recorded some jazz albums in the 50s. He had a really nice voice. Glad He decided to do this movie.
It was a great script that brought him back and regardless of what some critics say. I beleive it to be a great character study, if a bit contrived.
Cheers from the birthplace of at least one Beautiful Tilley, Canada :)
Anthony Perkins' performance as Norman Bates in all films is one of the greatest in cinema history. In Psycho II, he even makes us overlook some plot holes and thanks to him, we feel the tragedy of the character. I love the first half of Psycho II, the suspense, the acting, the cinematography and Jerry Goldsmith's score. I don't think the Spool retcon really works, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for the movie, and also Psycho III.
Love Psycho II…An underrated gem of a movie! Thanks for taking the time to do such a thorough retrospective!
Poor Norman the guy was sane till they started messing with him
Yeah I agree. I'm not sure how to square the "sane" certification with how ridiculously vulnerable Norman was. Like you have a suicide vest on you that's gonna detonate with the next moderate knock so you gotta tread on eggshells all the the while...
One of the biggest ironies in cinema. Psycho II is one of the greatest character study films in cinema history.
I think that's what's always gotten me. He did what he did, he went through therapy. He's clearly trying to be a regular person, but is also being released into a world that moved on since he last saw it. He has a chance at living out a normal life, but people step in to insure that he doesn't. I never cared for any of the further sequels (apart from some of the fin Perkins has in part three), but this makes a good second part to an untouchable original. The original has a protracted, boring monologue trying to explain Norman's psychology to an audience that wasn't attuned to the ways the mind works. The sequel shows how an audience that refuses to learn any further would treat someone needing help.
@@bayouradio Well spoken! Psycho III has a few memorable moments (ice machine, woody woodpecker) but overall the film felt like schlocky garbage. I need to check out Psycho IV sometime, I saw it when i was a kid but only ever remember the poisoning scene. Psycho II is fascinating because the film actually makes you sympathize with and cheer for Norman Bates who did but didn't do so many horrifying murders since he legitimately suffers from schizophrenia, almost like a Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde type of thing where half of him is a genuinely nice but emotionally scarred man but there's that dark and evil side of him recreating his dominating dead mother as his persona that he's desperately trying to keep suppressed and you can see that he's terrified and sad of what he might become again and probably feels like is doomed to become again. And then of course in the film there's four different people throughout who have to go and mess with him and push him back into his old mental condition and screw everything up lol.
Yes. You're rooting for him from the get-go, but them ladies screw him up bad.
Nice job, man. Good to see some love for Psycho II. It's a wonderful movie.
Yes, the original is a masterpiece, but I prefer II because of Perkins' amazing performance. Norman is so sympathetic in this movie that you're really rooting for everything to turn out ok for him. Alas, it's not to be.
And that Goldsmith score. Beautiful and haunting.
I REALLY hope that this film gets a nice new collectors edition release for its 40 year anniversary in 2023. It is almost every bit as good as the original.
This move is so underated. This as good as the wizerd of Oz.❤😢the way they gaslight him.we felt sorry him..A good movie.
Psycho 2 is one of the best sequels ever made. And it's probably the #1 most underrated. Amazing job on this retrospective!
When talking about how Vera Miles is now retired, it holds on a photograph of Tippi Hedren.
That is unfortunate.
Just for clarification to this video’s creator, that’s Tippi Hedren at 40:10, not Vera Miles
Dean Strickson And speaking of Vera Miles. She’s about to have a birthday.😊 She turns 91 on August 23rd.
Psycho II is a great film and follow up to Hitchcock classic. It has got its own originality. The script is very original. Plus Jerry Goldsmith score is timeless.
I'm a big Christopher Young fan and you can hear Goldsmith's influence all over his work, especially his score for Flowers In the Attic.
@MrHootiedean I just realized that the music theme for Flowers in the Attic is reminiscent of the main title music for The Illustrated Man. I have to give Jerry Goldsmith credit for watching this movie, because I don't think I would have watched it for any other reason at the time I first viewed it. Later years, I may have, when I became more familiar with other filmmakers. I never watched the other sequels, though I would have liked to see the TV film Psycho IV, especially because it was evidently highly praised. However, I don't watch R-rated films anymore, and I believe that the fourth film was given an R rating.
I find it ironic that people complain about the violence in Psycho 2. For its time, Psycho was very violent and was criticized for it.
I gotta say, I love this retrospective. I’m a huge Psycho II fan ever since the day I gave it a chance, then embarked on a binge of the whole franchise. The film stays near and dear to my heart, sometimes even more than the original due to the scarcity of appreciation. Everyday I am greeted by a lobby card of Tony Perkins staring into my soul that I have framed right by my bedroom doorway. I loved the story of how this came together, not as a cash grab, but as a genuine tribute to what came before. Nicely done mate, and thanks for laying this all out.
This is one of the best reviews I've seen! Please do Psycho 3 as well.
Psycho 2 needs more recognition its sooo good!! Deserves to be paired with the orignal, who knew a sequel made 23 years after the first one would actually become a classic in it's own way
Great video, this is my favourite of the franchise, would love to see your retrospectives on the sequels in the future. Cheers!
Thanks for watching! I'm definitely planning on it.
This movie was definitely better than it had any right being.
Facts thank you!!!! 🔪💯
Non-fun fact: Perkins' widow Berry Berenson died on one of the 9/11 flights.
Ray M that's so sad. One can Hope there souls are now together
Not fun, it’s sad, . Berry was in Barry Lyndon, Kubrick’s other cinematic masterpiece.
Ray M AA Flight 11 - the first of the two to crash into the World Trade Centre.
Gregory Jenkins that’s why he said non-fun fact.
The man who played larry Tate's on bewitched had a son die on one of those flights that day. Yes I know nothing to do with psycho
Vera Miles is awesome in both films! Recently caught her in an old episode of Colombo. Lovely But Lethal! So beautiful and such a great actress!
Hey guys! I just wanted to address a frequent complaint regarding ads on my videos. As far as I can tell, and if you know otherwise PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I have no control over the ads shown once the video has been made ineligible for monetization due to a copyright claim (which ALL of my "Story of's" have). This means I cannot change or remove the ads in any way and I receive none of the revenue for the video. I'm okay not getting the revenue, but it seems TH-cam or the copyright holder is going out of control with the ads and placing them every few minutes or so in my videos. If there is away around this, I have yet to find it. Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. As always, thanks for watching!
I feel you... being in the same boat. Love your channel.
great stuff ! could you do salems lot (david soul ) ? please.
replay noway
and how did Norman get released in first place
Not your fault, due to TH-cam's censoring and removing of so many popular channels they don't like, they have a lot fewer channels to spread the commercials over, isn't censorship great?😃🤷♂️
This was the first performance I ever saw with Dennis Franz. He is unforgettable as Warren Toomey. Dennis Franz was typecast as a "sleaze ball" in so many films. He is at his best here, with some comedy thrown in. His performance as Toomey was comedic, over the top, and what I best know him for. He went on to become a real star.
His death scene here is so interesting.
yes he did seem to play alot of roles like that ! i also remember him as the detective in " dressed to kill" a very cool movie imo !
Enough with the Dennis Franz. It's all you ever talk.
@@travzimmerman1340 Dennis Franz! Franz, Franz, Franz!
I saw this movie after seeing Franz as Sipowich in NYPD BLUE which was just odd lol
I've watched this movie many times in my 43 years on earth but only now i realize that Norman himself only killed 1 person in this sequel. But what i did notice years ago is that he actually poisons her as you can hear her gurgle 1 second before he hits her with the shovel. So in a way he killed her twice.
This was a fantastic video. I love the Psycho franchise and would love to see you continue with 3 and 4. Although 3 is cheesy, I think it had some great ideas like 2 did. I find myself rewatching 2 and 3 more than the original nowadays as I find them so fascinating.
What are your thoughts on the 4th one?
3 ruined it with the ending. 4 fixed it
I remember catching this late one night in my teens on cable and being shocked it wasn't horrible. Great little movie that will always be a pleasant discovery for whomever finds it.
It's shocking how thorough and in depth your reviews are. Incredible video! I would love to see you tackle the other installments in the Psycho franchise.
Fantastic work Layton! It is evident that you're pouring heart and soul into your videos. Can't imagine how much time and energy it must take you. Meanwhile, you're single-handedly setting a new standard for film review/retrospectives. After viewing your Psycho II, my partner and I have a new suggestion for consideration - Exorcist III. Honorable mention - Maximum Overdrive!
The "rocks" Lila is hidden behind is a pile of coal, also the reason there's a shovel in the house.
Very nice and informative retrospective!
I caught that too! (Coal cellar, right?)
I thoroughly enjoyed this; however, the photo you show of “Vera Miles at 90” is actually Tipi Hedren.
CRISPIN4U Good catch! I don’t think there are any photos of an elderly Vera Miles online.
I caught that too
Layton Eversaul funny how this reflects Hitchcock’s preference for casting young blonde women who, visually, can be rather interchangeable.
Oz Perkins also is known for his supporting role as one of Elle Woods’ supportive classmates in Legally Blonde
and now he's a director (check out "the blackcoat's daughter").
Layton you do a great job and your going to be one of the best reviewers out there. You already are just with less subscribers but those will come.Keep up the stellar work!!
Psycho 2 is soooo underrated as a sequel and as a movie in general! believe it or not i actually love Psycho2 more than the original
PREACH
Psycho 3 is even more underrated to me
@@ryanr20091 i do agree that Paycho 3 doesn't get enough love as 1 and 2, Duke is hilarious and at some points you genuinely feel that him and Norman have a friendship, 4 is definitely the worst in the franchise and i don't even consider that canon due to it being that bad, but 3 is defo where the franchise ended, the ending in the car with the mothers hand while looking into the camera smiling going to the asylum was a perfect ending to the trilogy.
@@ryanr20091 I always forgot about Psycho 2 - always 1 & 3 stuck in my mind but it’s been 30 years - I need a refresher on 3
@@ColdNumbzThePain The thing is 3 actually goes back to the original form for me while the second is all about trying rehab Norman into something he just isn't and fails into becoming. Don't me wrong I really like psycho 2 but it can really feel directionless exhausting at times with the plot all over the place in comparison to the original and the 3 feeling more straight on back to its roots .
Looove Perkins! One of his best performances. He's intriguing.
Excellent retrospective--liked & subscribed. While there were a lot of elements that went into making this such a successful sequel, the most indispensible of them is Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. He inhabits the role to the point that he is identified with Norman in a way that few actors achieve, something that passage of over two decades can't erase. Perkins comes off as being enmeshed in the character as to make us sympathizes with Norman's vulnerability, because he first sympathized with it. Videos on III & IV are welcome.
You know, you can watch a video 20 times and still miss a little tiny leftover clip in the middle of it. I've edited it out in TH-cam, but it may take a few hours. Please stand by.
Hey would you ever do a retrospective on halloween 5 it be great if you did
@@mr.smith45 October is just around the corner ...
Please do a retrospective on Psycho III in my opinion it's a pretty good continuation and i'd love to know more about it. That would be awesome.
BRAVO, LAYTON! This was a fantastic presentation! Thank you so much for creating this! It was an amazing treat! Looking forward to Parts III and IV as well!
Psycho 2 is IMO one of the best sequels of all time (not just horror). And yes, it is better than the original (IMO). So many great twist, great athmosphere, awesome music score. The chemistry between Mary and Norman is fanastic. I love Psycho 2. Psycho 3 and 4 were okay/good but not nearly as PERFECT as part 2
Psycho 2 is nowhere near the original
@@randywhite3947 It's better.
CelestialWoodway no it isn’t stop kidding yourself
@@randywhite3947 Psycho 2 is nowhere near the origonal ... because it is miles above it! P2 beats P1 in terms of suspense , athmosphere and story.
Germaniac77 😂 😝 😂
Psycho 2 is one of the best sequels of all time. And coming from a film background, your retrospectives are superbly put together with high production value and excellent technique. Well done.
Loving your retrospectives of amazing movies that don’t get the love they deserve. Sequels like Psycho 2 and Jaws 2 being a prime example.
Psycho 2 has to be one of my favourite sequels.
Knowing they had a classic to live up to, they actually put so much effort and love into the project and the results speak for themselves.
The plot was brilliantly spun out and the twist unguessable.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! This was such an amazing comprehensive video. Obsessed with your channel!
Back in the mid 80's, i was a lil tyke, and my grandma would often take me grocery shopping with her. I always got a couple of quarters from her when she was in checkout. You know those junk machines that you see in the lobby foyers of retail places? Well this one junk machine in particular, they had stickers based on horror movies and one of those i still have to this day is the sticker for this flick. Still on the old dresser i keep in the basement. I miss those kinda junk machines.
Have always loved this movie since it came out, and is a formidable mate to 'Psycho.' GREAT JOB ON THIS RETROSPECTIVE. DO THE SEQUELS,
Where has this channel been all my life. Thank you for such a lovingly made video.
This video is fantastic. I love the little touches like the fade outs and the pauses giving me a bit of time to digest what I just heard. The pacing needs editing are flawless. This is a wonderful piece of documentary. The commentary is clear measured with great intonation. A very fitting tribute to a fantastic film 👍🏻👏🏻❤️
I’m so glad I found your channel. I love this movie so much it’s nice to see others do as well.
Thank you!
We need some William Castle retrospectives on the channel. Especially Straight Jacket starring Joan Crawford.
Yeah, that would be a good idea.
LAYTON EVERSAUL!!!!!!!!!! ANOTHER AMAZING JOB!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVED THIS MOVIE AND FELT IT DID GREAT HONOR IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE CHARACTERS AFTER 22 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!
Great job on the video. You sir, have just earned yourself a new subscriber!
Tim Alton Thank you very much!
Your last line : it’s a film by cinema lovers FOR cinema lovers is PERFECT! Great retrospective!
Excellent work, Layton. Terrific retrospective. I learned a great number of things that I never knew about this gem of a film. I appreciate the work you bring to the documentaries you create. 👍
Thank you for spotlighting what has been a personal favorite of mine for decades. I would absolutely LOVE a retrospective on Psycho III.
Loggia was a relative of a friend of the family. He was very nice he let us go on the set of Innocent Blood. Loggia after psycho 2 had a great run of roles and was nominated for Jagged Edge. He was very nearly cast as Tony Russo the dean Stockwell role in married to the mob and he was also cast first as the James caan role in Honeymoon in Vegas. Unclear of what happened with that. He did great on sopranos too
Fantastic, great work and keep it up. I will do my best spreading this video and I hope you hang in there. This work will not go unnoticed.
This documentary is one of the most brilliant retrospectives i've seen. Thank you so much for making this, i just came across your channel.
Hi. This is an amazing perspective of the Psycho universe. I actually saw Psycho II for the first time as the CBS network broadcast and before seeing the original classic. I fell in love with Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack more than anything and then the Victorian setting of the house.
I do think the graphic violence went a bit overboard in Psycho II compared to the classic but still maintained the suspense of a psychological thriller mixed with the slasher film genre of the time. I agree...Psycho II is one of the best sequals to a classic movie ever made.
I do look forward to your reviews of the next movies of the series, as bad as they are. Both lack the suspense that make the previous two superb.
Now this is how you do a retrospective. Lots of good archival footage, good insights into the making of, and interesting fun facts. I was one of those, less than overwhelmed, when first hearing about a possible sequel, and it took me some time to actually see it, but I think it's more than worthy. As you said, the dark humor is well-used, knowing the audience's familiarity with the characters. Will be looking for more of your R & Rs.
I saw it in the theatre a few times when it came out. The basement/coal scene scared the crap outta me. 10/10.
Man, your channel needs more subs ASAP! I've enjoyed your content for some time now and your work has greatly improved. Respect!
Raphael Tenschert Thank you very much! I try to improve with each video.
Man, this was fantastic. I love Psycho 2, so it was neat to see such a deep dive into a somewhat lost classic. You see what deep reverence they pay to the original, and its why the sequel works so well. One of the best sequels ever, really. Subscribed.
"Norman takes the news as.....one would expect."
*WHACK!!!!!!!*
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This was great ..v.well made video and v.insightful. Thanks for taking the time!
Great review Layton! I have always loved this sequel! It helped me appreciate the brilliance of the original Psycho by watching that again after seeing this one. Thanks for covering this!
Psycho 2 and also Halloween 2, best sequels of all-time!! I can watch them over and over again and never get bored ❤️❤️ Soundtrack amazing and creepy
T2
This is such a great channel.
Not sure how it got my algorithm, but I'm glad it did.😊
Great video, in fact I’d go as far to say the best documentary I’ve seen on Psycho 2. I thought I was the only one who loved it! Had it on VHS as a kid when my love of all things Hitchcock was just starting.
Ever since I watched your documantaries about the Jaws sequels and the Psycho sequels, I'm a fan of your work. This stuff is worthy to be on home media releases as in depth extra's.
Great and most of all, interesting!
Thanks for having the love for movies that are now almost overlooked and providing new info that not every fan has about these great films.
Great video! Loved this movie growing up and it still holds up strong. Would definitely love a video for Psycho III. Maybe a mini-video for part IV. lol.
Your videos are great stuff...loving it. Thanks!
Excellent work on the video. Just discovered the channel. Look forward to watching your older videos.
superb review and retrospective man. i subscribed . This movie is a masterpiece to me and i loved all the behind the scenes info you gave us . i have watched this several times now . Thanks a million . Great work
Thanks for the support!
I just found your channel because of your video on Salem's Lot and I am hooked! I would absolutely love to see videos on the other Psycho movies! Even..that other one.
Oh they’re coming ...
You really did a great job on this video. I learned a lot from this video about the movie that I didn't know about. Good job.
You did a wonderful job with this video and I look forward to seeing more.
I really felt sorry for Norman in this film they really did him dirty. With that being said I LOVED this movie too bad it was so criminally underrated and slept on
This was great...Thanks once again for your fantastic devotion to telling the stories behind these films in detail! This was the first R-rated movie my Dad let me go see in theaters (I was 13) because it intrigued him and he really liked Road Games...We both really loved it and it was a nice memory to revisit!
I love Psycho 2. I find it more watchable than the original. The first one is a classic for sure but being a child of the 80s this is one I can happily rewatch whereas the original, great as it is, is not something I could watch time and time again, probably owing to the pacing and my modern (ish) sensibilities.
It's wonderful seeing the love for this movie increase over time. Love to see III and IV get your treatment. Thanks for this.
What an incredibly comprehensive an d complete time capsule for film lovers!!!! I love this channel!!
Loved the video and yes, I would like to see the sequels/remake talked about as well.
Just watched your review & retrospective and I loved it. I was lucky enough as a small child to see Psycho 2 in the theater back in 1983 and even though it scared the crap out of me and I had no business being there, I fell in love with the world of Psycho. And yes, I think you should do a video on Part 3 and 4. They just don't make movies like these anymore. The camera work and the lighting alone is amazing. Love what you are doing on here, keep the movie magic alive and stay cool.
Please do a retrospect of the other 2!! This was FANTASTIC and I can't wait to see more from you!!! ❤
Thanks for watching!
Wow only just discovered your amazing retrospectives... Brilliant
Okay, I'm only ~1/3 through the video, but this is already the best retrospective I've seen on this film...
Great, wonderful stuff you put together
Just watched this movie last night btw... TOTALLY underrated. Without question, it's probably my favorite slasher sequel now
This film is visually stunning and the plot is very mysterious.
This is an incredible review of this movie. I love Psycho 2 and your review was so we'll done. Definitely subscribing to the channel.
I hope you do cover the other two sequels. Perkins is highlight of them imo
Thanks for your support! I definitely plan on doing the other sequels, as well.
Wow! Great video, awesome facts. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thanks, Layton! 🚿 I'm glad you caught that insert of Tippi Hedren... I was going to comment on it. 😆 I adore PSYCHO II (1983) and I wish more TH-cam reacters would give it a try... as well as young audiences in general. It's such a good follow-up.
Very well put together retrospective! 🤘
Another fantastic video. I don't say this because I have never felt this before, but you deserve many more views. I got your Terminator 2 video in my recommended and it has decent amount of views. Hopefully it is the avalanche you need.
You have great talent!
Have to say Layton. After I discovered your channel the other day and watched the opening 6 mins of this vid I clicked thumbs up. Always loved this movie and agree with your review.
Thanks for this. I never did see the sequel for Psycho and this got me intrigued. I always smile when I hear the names Loomis and Bates since Halloween used those same names. 😁
Brilliant video on a brilliant film. Please make more, I would love to your take on the other films.
Thank you! I'm planning on it.
You're absolutely right that it took a long time for this movie to get the praise it deserves. It has only started to happen in recent years. 20 years ago when I first started using the internet, the message boards on IMDB (gone now) were completely scathing about this movie. Now it is seen as an underrated classic. And rightly so (the classic part, not the underrated part). It is not only a sympathetic portrayal of mental health (a subject that the original only used as a means for violence and shock), but the movie itself is so respectful of the original and of the character. A cheap cash-in this definitely isn't. I have rarely seen a sequel that so delicately and respectfully continues the story of a previous movie. Even things like the Diner (where Norman gets a job), is something that was actually set-up in the original movie. And while managing to do all that, it ALSO has an extremely clever and intricate mystery that keeps you guessing to the end.