Psycho 2

Cast: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia and Dennis Franz.

Director: Richard Franklin

Release Date: 1983

Running Time: 1hr 48 minutes

Genre: Horror/Mystery

Rating: R

Format: DVD

Synopsis:

After 22 years of psychiatric care, Norman Bates attempts to return to a normal life of solitude but the specters of his crime, begin to haunt himTwenty two years have passed since the first events took place at Bates Motel. Norman Bates attempts to return to a normal life. After Norman's release the motel is once again up and running. It's very clear that he's haunted by his past. Sadly this movie wasn't directed by Alfred Hitchcock but that doesn't mean to say that it's not any good. Anthony Perkins returns once again as Norman Bates, although he's still running the motel he's also working as a kitchen porter in a local diner. The beginning is a little bit repetitive, Franklin has chosen to use elements from the first movie which is alright considering it's a sequel, but it's not exactly original.

Anthony Perkins performance is fantastic, there is more depth to his character in this film, we're also introduced to actress Meg Tilly who plays young waitress Mary Loomis. Although the performances are great, there isn't the same wonderful feeling of suspense that is shown in the original movie. In all honestly I don't think anyone will ever top Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. It's very interesting to see this movie in colour compared to the original which was deliberately filmed in black and white. More often then not sequels don't normally work on this occasion however I think it has. The storyline is good as is the direction. It often makes you wonder what the original would of looked like if it had been shot in colour. Alfred Hitchcock chose not to as he believed his movie would be too gory. There is definitely more of a psychological element to this movie then the first.

The storyline is great but the pace is a little bit slow at times, some scenes really drag the movie down, they could easily have been left out, it's what made the first movie so great, Hitchcock chose to focus more on the motel then the outside world, unfortunately that's where Franklin has gone wrong this time, there are too many scenes shot at a police station, there's not enough mystery. Not to mention one character practically spoils the storyline for the original movie by telling another character what previously happened. It works well with the storyline yes, but it also ruins it somewhat too and takes away the magic from the previous film. The best horror movies are the ones that don't give too much away. The audience is sat waiting in anticipation to see what happens next. It's a little bit predictable which is a shame.

The cinematography isn't that great, the lighting isn't that great, the only good thing is the production design. It's nice to see the interior of the motel in colour, overall it's quite a disappointing looking movie. There's absolutely no suspense, It's a shame Hitchcock chose not to make a sequel because chances are it would of been just as good as the first, perhaps the fact that Franklin chose to shoot this movie in colour is what ruins it, of course all movies were shot in colour in 1983, but perhaps there would of been more mystery and suspense if it was shot in black and white?  Overall this is a very disappointing movie, it's nowhere near up to the standards of the first film, Anthony Perkins performance is great but I don't like the relationship that he shares with Mary, its too simple and at times doesn't make sense. It's not thrilling, there's no suspense, the soundtrack is good but it doesn't help to build any suspense. Perhaps I worked out the story a lot quicker then others? After understanding the storyline of the first movie, this one was far too predicable. Disappointing,

2/5 stars