Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

Norman Bates recalls his childhood with his abusive mother while fearing his unborn child will inherit his split personality disorder.

Director:

Mick Garris

Writers:

Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch (based on characters created by)

Stars:

Anthony Perkins, CCH Pounder, Henry Thomas

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Perkins	...	Norman Bates
Henry Thomas	...	Young Norman Bates
Olivia Hussey	...	Norma Bates
CCH Pounder	...	Fran Ambrose
Warren Frost	...	Dr. Leo Richmond
Donna Mitchell	...	Connie Bates
Tom Schuster	...	Chet Rudolph (as Thomas Schuster)
Sharen Camille	...	Holly
Bobbi Evors	...	Gloria
John Landis	...	Mike Calveccio
Kurt Paul	...	Raymond Linette
Louis Crume	...	George Emeric
Cynthia Garris	...	Ellen Stevens
Doreen Chalmers	...	Mrs. Lane
Alice Hirson	...	Mother (voice)

Storyline

Norman Bates returns for this prequel, once more having mommy trouble. This time around he is invited to share memories of mom with a radio talk show host, but the PSYCHO fears that he may kill again for his beloved is impregnated with his child and Norman cannot let another PSYCHO loose in the civilized world.

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Plot Keywords:

prequel | double murder | strychnine | cross dressing | spying on couple having sex | 

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Taglines:

You've met Norman... now meet Mother.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Psicosis IV: El comienzo

Filming Locations:

Orlando, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Smart Money Productions,Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was shot in 24 days.

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Goofs

Norman says that his father was stung to death by bees. However, at the climax of Psycho III, it is disclosed that his father was murdered by his mother's sister, Emma Spool.

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Quotes

[Norman is on top of Norma]
Norma Bates: Get off of me! You are going to forget once and for all about that filthy thing of yours! You'll forget that you even have one of those things! Do you understand me, boy?
[Norma puts a dress and lipstick on Norman]
Norma Bates: There, that should help you forget it. See, look at yourself, boy. Girl. Yes, girl.
Young Norman Bates: No, not a girl.
Norma Bates: Mama's little girl.
[puts him in the closet]
Young Norman Bates: No. No, Mother, please! Please, Mother. Don't leave me here.
Norma Bates: [opens door, hands him a pitcher] Here, take this! ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)

User Reviews

Good-bye To The Bates Motel

In this the last movie of the Psycho series, Norman has flashbacks to his youth and the circumstances that made him the man he became. There is a sort of bittersweet nostalgia to the memories and the circumstances as well as some loopholes in the continuity. A bathroom appears in mother's room where one never was and the fight scene takes away from the fact that Mrs. Bates and her lover were believed to have poisoned themselves in bed. I guess Norman could have dragged them back up there, but then you'd think that the police at the time would have found evidence of tampering with the murder scene. Well, this is a small town; they wouldn't have expected such a grandiose plot from such a then expected "nice young man." Olivia Hussey does a good job portraying the shrewish and demented Norma Bates and Henry Thomas of E.T. fame forgets that role to emote Perkins as Bates from the first movie. Putting an end to the Bates legacy sends Norman tripping through memories of his infamous past as the ghosts of his victims come to haunt him, but the ghost of Marion Crane herself is conspicuously absent as it was her who started the series by stealing his boss's money. Otherwise, this is a great end to one of Hollywood's most memorable move series.