Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

[LawnFurniture]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Psycho 4 has a lot more credibility than 2 and 3. It's the true sequel/prequel to the classic 1960 movie.

Eh. I wouldn't go that far. Though Psycho 3 is pretty uninspired, Psycho 2 is very well regarded in the horror community.

[Rich65]

I enjoy all 4 films and Anthony Perkins was excellent in all 4, of course none of the sequels could match the original but they each have their own charms.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by LawnFurniture

Eh. I wouldn't go that far. Though Psycho 3 is pretty uninspired, Psycho 2 is very well regarded in the horror community.

II is fine. III is okay. IV is brilliant, IMO.

I'd agree with the sentiment that IV is the "true sequel" (though I like them all), only because it's the only sequel to share the same screenwriter as Hitchcock's original. This was Joseph Stefano's vision (influenced by Bloch, of course) of where the story should go, revealing juicy backstory as the film progresses.

I've always been a fan of Psycho IV, since catching it on late-night TV as a kid. It's one I'm beyond stoked to finally be adding to my blu-ray collection!

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

It's not a sequel, it's a prequel despite the numbering.

Technically it's both. The plot of the film is Norman telling his story to a radio dj.

[Keegsta]

I have the Psycho Complete Collection from Australia but I'm happy to see this coming to US stores. I'm honestly always happy to see more films released for more people!

[tskwerl]

Call me crazy, but I think this is the creepiest of the sequels. I still have the vhs that I recorded off television. It'll be nice to finally have an upgrade.

Also, see sig.v

[BlurayForumUser]

Originally Posted by LawnFurniture

Eh. I wouldn't go that far. Though Psycho 3 is pretty uninspired, Psycho 2 is very well regarded in the horror community.

Psycho II is one of the greatest sequels ever.

[4EverJohnnyBoy]

I can't tell y'all how much it warms my heart to see such love for Norman Bates here. Truly in my element in this thread. Definitely my kinda people haha. Also thrilled to see majority calling out the 1998 remake for the garbage that it is. Ugh that film was such an insult. I cringe when I hear supposed genre fans talking so highly about "Psycho" and my ears perk up only to realize they're referring to the '98 version. I kid you not, but there have been many times I've had these encounters and I discover that they didn't know it was a remake. It still baffles me. But I digress, long day ahead. Insomnia be damned I've got to try to at least get couple hours sleep. Will check back in later today for some deep Norman chatter. Cheers 😎

[LawnFurniture]

Originally Posted by BlurayForumUser

Psycho II is one of the greatest sequels ever.

I completely agree. That movie is one of my favorites.

[darkness2918]

Its great news for those that like it & wanted it Now if they would only put the remake on BD since that's the one I really want.

[Bumblefeet]

I own the Australian Psycho collection on blu-ray and part IV looked and sounded great on blu-ray. After going through the movies, I'd rate the Psycho series:

Psycho > Psycho II > Psycho IV > Psycho III > Psycho 98

Still need to check out the Bates motel series.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by tskwerl

Call me crazy, but I think this is the creepiest of the sequels. I still have the vhs that I recorded off television. It'll be nice to finally have an upgrade.

Also, see sig.v

Fright Night Part II is coming out in the UK, btw. A legit release with a master supplied by Paramount.

[The Great Owl]

I'm in. It'll be nice to add this to my Psycho collection.

[format916]

so now part 4 is the worst? part 3 still holds the crown, at least part 4 brings it back to the feeling the original two had. the third is like a redneck version of psycho.

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Fright Night Part II is coming out in the UK, btw. A legit release with a master supplied by Paramount.

Good to know. I'm down for Fright Night II and Psycho IV. It'll be nice to get rid of the Psycho triple feature DVD set.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Fright Night Part II is coming out in the UK, btw. A legit release with a master supplied by Paramount.

Germany.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by format916

so now part 4 is the worst? part 3 still holds the crown, at least part 4 brings it back to the feeling the original two had. the third is like a redneck version of psycho.

I'm a bit..."shocked" probably isn't the right word, but surprised anyway, to see Psycho 4 being regaled as the best of the sequels. I've long been a fan of this series, and in my circles, 4 is easily the least of the series.

Not that it's a bad movie, exactly, but the first three are each, in their own way, miles better.

Everyone loves the first movie and almost everyone at least respects, if not loves, the second one. So there's that.

But let's look at Psycho 3, one of the most inventive and otherwise "interesting" slasher sequels in a decade that was absolutely festooned with them.

For one thing, it's the only sequel that achieves the deft balance of horror and comedy we see in the original. It actually manages to double down on the comedy -- in a way that put off many viewers and critics -- while injecting an element of the tragic, which naturally carries over from the second one. This is largely thanks to Perkins' remarkably assured direction and his performance, the latter of which manages the nearly impossible task of making us laugh at, feel sorry for, and fear Norman Bates simultaneously.

I don't expect to win any converts -- we all have our favourite slasher films, and justifying such choices can be a fool's errand -- but there are days when I prefer Psycho 3 to the brilliant second movie, just for its sheer moxie, great imagery, and hysterical sense of humour. If they'd let Perkins end the film the way he'd wanted, we'd have had a perfect conclusion to the series. As it is, just turning off the movie a few seconds before the credits achieves the same effect.

I've seen Psycho 4 at least three times, and despite my undying admiration for CCH Pounder, it never quite manages to justify its own existence. Very little about it is remarkable -- not story/performance wise like the second one, or stylistically/visually like the third one. And, Stefano or not, the script just doesn't cut it.

One imagines Perkins showing up on the set, ready to shoot, a bit deflated, thinking, "I meant to end this damned series with the last one, now here I am again." Hopefully he was well compensated.

And hey, kudos to those who are jazzed about this. But I ask, if you have a moment, that you give the third one another try. If Hitchcock had lived, I'd put cash money on the fact that it'd be his favourite of the three; he wasn't one to shy away from gruesome humour or from dipping an oar into more lurid subject matter. Duke stealing mother's corpse and singing "oh, god bless you, and keep you, dear mother Bates" would've put a smile on his face, guaranteed.

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

I've seen Psycho 4 at least three times, and despite my undying admiration for CCH Pounder, it never quite manages to justify its own existence. Very little about it is remarkable -- not story/performance wise like the second one, or stylistically/visually like the third one. And, Stefano or not, the script just doesn't cut it.

One imagines Perkins showing up on the set, ready to shoot, a bit deflated, thinking, "I meant to end this damned series with the last one, now here I am again." Hopefully he was well compensated.

I shared this in the australian thread, Garris discussing that Perkins was initially set to direct:

Mick Garris on PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING - YouTube

[Donl1282]

I noticed how the Australian set of Psycho 2 and 3 discs are identical in bonus features as SF discs but Psycho 4 disc is bare bones. They should have waited another year before releasing the set but now the Australian Psycho fans will miss out on the Psycho 4 bonus features.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by Bumblefeet

I shared this in the australian thread, Garris discussing that Perkins was initially set to direct:

"...he wanted to direct Psycho 4, but the studio wanted me instead."