by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 01, 2008

Most "Psycho" sequels began with the premise that Norman Bates had reverted again into a twisted killer with a split personality. But "Psycho II" shows Bates presumed to be cured, released from a mental institution and struggling to re-integrate himself with society.

For this reason, "Psycho II" was probably the best of three sequels to the 1960 thriller "Psycho." Anthony Perkins returned as the troubled Norman Bates, now presented as a polite and likeable man victimized by the machinations around him. The film's writers confronted Norman with surprises and twists worthy of the original Alfred Hitchcock movie. And most importantly, they were able to create a real mystery with some high stakes. Norman's sanity is at stake, but if he is really cured of his schizophrenia, then who's responsible for the appearances of his homicidal mother?

There are killings in Psycho, but there are also several suspects. Dennis Franz (who would later play Andy Sipowicz on NYPD) has turned the Bates family business into a sleazy adult motel. Norman is disliked by some of the local townsfolk. But Norman was locked in the attic during at least one of the killings. Or was he? Norman is later discovered by his sympathetic friend Mary (played by Meg Tilly), who notes that the attic door is unlocked.

There's additional pressure on Norman when the sheriff begins investigating the suspected murders. There's a real poignancy when Norman, confronted with disturbing evidence, moans that "It's happening again." Mary believes in him, even though Norman says he's received phone calls from his dead mother. But the movie eventually reveals another explanation. One of Norman's original victims is attempting to drive him crazy by re-creating the persona of Norman's domineering mother.

But it's a red herring, since there's yet-another killer on the loose. When the phone rings, Norman begins talking to his Mother again (even though Mary hears that there's no one there when she picks up another extension). And there's someone else hiding in Norman's house. Mary struggles to reach Norman's normal personality, even as he starts becoming genuinely crazy. They struggle for a knife, the police arrive, and ultimately Norman is presumed innocent, though the audience knows there's another explanation.

It's only after the police have left that the murderer appears to Norman and identifies their role. In "Psycho II," Norman Bates wasn't the killer after all. But now that he's been driven into an unstable condition, he'll revert to his murderous ways in the two movies that followed!

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