PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece Psycho is often considered by fans as the ultimate horror movie. From the depth of the character study to the birth of the slasher film, Psycho has been given more accolades than nearly any other genre movie. But most horror classics get a sequel, even if it’s twenty-three years down the road. In 1983, The Bates Motel opened again. Today we check in to Psycho 2, which celebrates turning forty this year.
Psycho 2 was written by Tom Holland (Child’s Play 1988, check out our franchise ranking here) and directed by Richard Franklin (Patrick 1978). It follows Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins: The Black Hole 1979), the schizophrenic motel owner who killed in his mother’s identity and covered up the murders in his own. It’s been twenty-two years since Bates was convicted, and he’s now ruled to be mentally sane and free to return to his normal life. But Lila Loomis (Vera Miles: Into The Night 1985), the sister of Marion Crane in the first movie, is out to prove that Norman still has “Mother” in his mind.
This movie could very easily have been just another uninspired sequel that attempted to cash in on a box office hit. But Psycho 2 succeeded where so many others have failed. Not only did it keep the continuity of the Crane family, but it delved further into the progression of the mind and dark maternal history of Norman Bates. Anthony Perkins reprised his role, and the delicate balance between his charming side and his mental breakdowns is done masterfully. There aren’t many other characters that you can feel sympathy for as they murder people, but Perkins creates that dichotomy.
Norman isn’t the only well-written and layered character here. Mary Loomis (Meg Tilly: Body Snatchers 1993) is the daughter of Lyla, and she stays with Norman after a bad breakup. She’s actually there as a plan with her mother to try to drive Norman insane, but she begins to have remorse when she sees Norman as gentle and well-intentioned. We see the inner struggle on the faces of both characters, battling between mission and morality, and it forges a permeable bond between the two. Holland is an underrated maestro of the genre, and he crafts these moving parts in such a way that everybody has a nuance that the audience can relate to.
The entire film, from the ambiance to the kills to the score, feels like a love letter to Hitchcock’s original. But not one that’s pandering with derisiveness, one that builds fittingly on the already existing lore. One could argue that Psycho 2 has just as much meat on the bone as the 1960 hit, making it one of the greatest horror sequels of all time. This movie opened the door to two more original films, a spinoff, a TV series, and a remake. Alfred Hitchcock would undoubtedly be proud.
The heart and endurance of this movie have left the light on in the Bates Motel for decades to come, and it’s one that everyone should check into.
