Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

One of my all time favorites.

Awesome Movie

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

After pretty much determining the future of the Norman Bates character in the terrible third sequel, this fourth effort instead takes a look back at the most grotesque mother-son relationship in the history of cinema.For a basic plot summary, "Psycho 4" sees Bates (Anthony Perkins) call into a late-night radio show dealing with the crime of matricide. Through flashbacks, Norman describes the key moments of his childhood that eventually led him to become the strange character we all know.In terms of just overall plot and drama, this is a pretty good film. It paints a very interesting portrait of Mr. Bates, and ultimately helps us understand why he makes the major, final decision of his life at the film's conclusion. In comparison to other horror film sequels, this one stands up quite nicely.The major problem with the movie, though, are the parts set in the present-day. The huge plot hole is that the Norman Bates we see in this installment could seemingly never have emerged from the complete maniac present at the end of part three, with little to no explanation of the dramatic turnaround. Essentially, the flashbacks are intriguing but the "current" storyline goes lacking.Of course, a review of any "Psycho" film would not be complete without a critique of Anthony Perkins' performance, as he (once Hitchcock bowed out) become the face of the franchise. Though I have to give Perkins credit for turning in a spectacular performance (well, four of them really), there is also a hint of desperation that is kind of sad, considering that Perkins' only other notable career role is playing Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out". However, that being said, I can't imagine the Psycho franchise without him.Thus, while this film isn't a classic by any means, it is decent horror/drama and a fitting wrap to one of the most psychologically-intriguing horror series of all-time. It still doesn't hold a candle to the original, but also doesn't drag things on like Halloween or Friday the 13th, either.

Psycho IV: The Beginning Norman Bates returns for this prequel, once more having mommy trouble. This time around he is invited to share memories of mom with a radio talk show host, but the PSYCHO fears that he may kill again for his beloved is impregnated with his child and Norman cannot let another PSYCHO loose in the civilized world. The reason why i loved this mostly than the previous 3 films is because it concludes the series in a great way he is victorious over this long battle with his mum and you also see why he did what he did his mother was hard at him and you get it why he poisoned her Henry Thomas gives a nice performance as a young Norman but also Olivia Hussey as a young miss Norma Bates gives a nice performance unlike the horrible Friday the 13th series this feels like an actual final chapter he faces his demons and he chooses his wife and child over madness but also his mother gets trapped in the basement once and for all. Psycho 4 is not just a great movie but it also has a great pacing, nice acting and easily one of the best horror movie endings ever. Plus: The Original Theme is Back!!!

I'm not going to say it's a bad movie. It's just that all the others were better. I don't think it was necessary to make this one. Maybe in that time it was nice to have a prequel of what happened to Norman Bates in his youth. But now you have a much better thing to watch if you want Norman Bates' history as a kid. You can just watch the series Bates Motel. That series is much better then this movie. Now back to Psycho, the beginning. Anthony Perkins is like always the star of the movie. He is the face of Norman Bates, the perfect psycho. The young guy playing the young Norman does a good job as well but it's not the same. The story going back and forth from present to past is okay but not really necessary. Watch Bates Motel instead.

Well Norman Bates is out of the psychiatric hospital again and he's married...to a psychiatric nurse. He's at her house while she is out working and he is listening to a radio programme talking about sons killing their mothers. Naturally he calls in and most of the movie is made up of him telling the show about his life. On screen this is done through flashbacks. He warns the show that he has to kill again and we find out he has to kill his wife as she's "allowed herself to get pregnant". He phones his wife and tells her to meet him at his mother's house. Despite her knowing his history she willingly obliges. Maybe she too is crazy.There are a few "What the hell?!" moments that really don't need to be there.On the radio show Norman refers to himself as 'Ed' and maybe the film should have been called 'Psycho IV: Ed, are you there?' as this one line is repeated constantly and becomes very annoying.The actress who plays Norman's mother seems like she's reading her lines off a prompt at times and even her screaming seems unnatural. She's a very poor actress.I wanted to see Anthony Perkins be Norman Bates again, but he only really is in the last ten minutes or so. The rest of the time he is completely wasted.His wife really does seem crazy herself as she is very forgiving (and instantly forgiving). It's like "You nearly just tried to hunt me down and kill me and the baby with a knife but, forget about all that, I love you and our baby will love you".I realise this was a TV movie rather than a theatrical release but it simply is no good. It is a waste of the Psycho franchise. Maybe Perkins knew his time was limited so he agreed to do it, but it's a shambles of a movie.