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This made for television sequel was a means to tell the story of how Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) became the person he is. It is a prequel that shows Norman's mother Mrs. Norma Bates (Olivia Hussey) before Norman kills her and the reasons behind how he became a distraught person.

This film takes place years after the last film with Norman in his own place far away from the Bates Motel and in a serious relationship with a woman whom is pregnant which brings up concerns that begin to haunt his waking hours. When Fran Ambrose (CCH Pounder), a radio talk show host whom Norman listens to, has a show that rings too close to home he calls her telling her the story of how he became the person he is. Going from a young Norman (as played by Henry Thomas) his story is related through the abuse and sexual depravity put upon him by an aggressive mother and unconventional upbringing in the absence of his real father. By examining his past Norman soon becomes fearful that the his past psychotic tendencies may be inherited to his as yet unborn child and becomes conflicted on how to resolve the problem. This journey will take Norman back to the most traumatic experiences of his life culminating in his facing his darkest nightmares, which are the events surrounding the Bates Motel.

This is one of those rare prequels that actually contributes to the background and story of the previous films. Much has been made over Norman's relationship with his mother and how it ultimately affected his sanity but in this film we finally see it for ourselves. Hussey makes for an attractive Norma and shows us how Norman ultimately becomes her surrogate husband. As a lover to his own mother Norman becomes a confused child especially when Norma finds an older companion that is closer to her own age. This jealousy that Norman feels ultimately aids in his fractured psyche that ultimately leads to Norman's murdering his own mother and her lover.

Written by Joseph Stefano and directed by Mick Garris (in one of his earliest directorial efforts) PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING is an interesting look into the beginning of one of cinema's most interesting and charismatic serial killers.

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