Psycho III (1986)

Director:

Anthony Perkins

Writer:

Charles Edward Pogue (writer)

Release Date:

2 July 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Unlock the Terror. Unlock the Fear. And enter into the All New Nightmare of...

Plot:

Norman Bates is still running his little motel, and he has kept the dressed skeleton he calls mother...

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Psycho | Reporter | Serial Killer | Murder

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Anthony Perkins	...	Norman Bates
Diana Scarwid	...	Maureen Coyle
Jeff Fahey	...	Duane Duke
Roberta Maxwell	...	Tracy Venable
Hugh Gillin	...	Sheriff John Hunt
Lee Garlington	...	Myrna
Robert Alan Browne	...	Ralph Statler
Gary Bayer	...	Father Brian
Patience Cleveland	...	Sister Margaret
Juliette Cummins	...	Red
Steve Guevara	...	Deputy Leo
Kay Heberle	...	Ruthie
Donovan Scott	...	Kyle
Karen Hensel	...	Sister Catherine
Jack Murdock	...	Lou

Also Known As:

Psicosis 3 (USA: Spanish title)
Psicosis III (USA: Spanish title)

Runtime:

93 min | Australia:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM18 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) | Australia:MA (re-release) | Australia:R | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1986) | France:-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Anthony Perkins originally suggested the film be shot in black and white but Universal opposed it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maureen Coyle: There is no God!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Psycho Legacy (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Scream Of Love

"Norman Bates directs Norman Bates,"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

...read the introduction of Psycho III on TV. I was excited to watch Anthony Perkins's directorial debut, but I must say that this film had so much more potential to be better than it was.

Psycho III in several ways, is better than Psycho II. It reveals much more about Norman as a person, not just a crazy old man with a mental illness. Anthony Perkins once told David Letterman of the Psycho franchise that "They're not really horror movies. They're tragedies." I really felt sympathy for Norman in this sequel above all the others. There is not a better word to describe everything about Norman than tragic.

Psycho III contains a lot of 'familar' scenes. The bell tower scene at the beginning inspired from Vertigo, when Norman's 'girlfriend' Maureen fell down the stairs of the home, done exactly the same way Detective Arbogast fell in the original film; 'floaty' like. After Norman 'saved' Maureen from her attempt at suicide, they have a quick heart-to-heart, in which Norman says "We all go a little mad sometimes," a famous quote from the original. Clearly Perkins wanted to pay homage to the Master of Suspense.

On to his performance - wonderful as always, but I can't help noticing that a lot of the Bates trademark movements and facial expressions were brought back in this sequel, some unnecessarily so. Sometimes it seemed as if Norman was parodying himself. Jeff Fahey as Duke, a musician with a cocky surfer boy personality was an interesting contrast.

Overall, I think Perkins should be given more credit. Sure, it isn't perfect - but I think it has a lot more heart. I think if certain scenes were removed, it would have been a lot better, particularly the end of the film where he brings back the infamous grinning 'stare.' It counteracts with what Norman overcame only a scene ago. But Psycho III doesn't deserve such a low rating. It's definitely worth a look - but don't expect a masterpiece. 6/10.