Psycho II (film)

Psycho II is a 1983 American psychological horror film directed by Richard Franklin and written by Tom Holland. It is the first sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and second film in the Psycho series. It stars Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Robert Loggia, and Meg Tilly. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.

The film did well financially, grossing over $34 million, which in-part led to two further sequels. The film was received moderately well by critics, and has a 59% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert noted that the film worked hard to sustain the suspenseful atmosphere of the original. The film was followed by Psycho III (1986) and Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990).

It is unrelated to the 1982 novel Psycho II by Robert Bloch, which he wrote as a sequel to his original novel Psycho.

Psycho II takes place 22 years after the first film. Norman Bates is released from the mental institution and returns to the house and Bates Motel to continue a normal life. However, it soon becomes apparent that his troubled past is going to continue to haunt him.

Psycho II

Psycho II can refer to:

Psycho II (novel)

Psycho II is a 1982 novel that Robert Bloch wrote as a sequel to his 1959 novel Psycho. The novel was completed before the screenplay was written for the unrelated 1983 film Psycho II. According to Bloch, Universal Pictures loathed the novel, which was intended to critique Hollywood splatter films. A different story was created for the film and Bloch was not invited to any screenings. Universal suggested that Bloch abandon his novel, which he declined and released anyway to good sales.

Plot summary

Norman Bates (disguised as a nun) escapes from the mental asylum where he was committed at the end of the first novel. The police believe that Bates did not survive his escape attempt because of a fiery car crash. However, a growing body count causes his psychiatrist to suspect that Bates is headed to Hollywood where a movie based upon his real-life murders is being filmed. In the end, it is revealed that Bates burned to death, and his psychiatrist was murdering people.

References