Psycho IV: The Beginning

1990 "You've met Norman, now meet Mother..."
5.4| 1h36m| R| en| More Info
Released: 10 November 1990 Released
Producted By: Universal Television
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

When he hears talk radio host Fran Ambrose discussing the topic of matricide, Norman calls in under a false name to tell his story.

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Reviews

TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film
Steineded How sad is this?
GazerRise Fantastic!
Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.
BA_Harrison After two impressive sequels, the Psycho series ends with this made-for-cable movie that, while not totally unwatchable, is still easily the weakest of the lot (not counting the remake, which I have yet to pluck up the courage to watch).This time around, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), now married and supposedly cured, phones radio DJ Fran Ambrose (CCH Pounder) who is hosting a chat show on the subject of matricide; Norman recounts his formative years, which are shown in a series of lengthy flashbacks (E.T. star Henry Thomas playing the young Norman), leading up to the murder of his mother (Olivia Hussey) and her lover Chet (Tom Schuster). Norm then reveals that is planning to kill his wife Connie (Donna Mitchell) because she is pregnant and he fears that his child will follow in his footsteps.With the stop-start nature of its flashback sequences, Psycho IV never really gets into full swing until the final act, which finally sees Norman back in full-on twitchy nut-job mode stalking Connie in his old house on the hill. However, after some 'mild peril', the film wraps things up with Norman having a change of heart, his wife happy to instantly forget that, moments earlier, her husband was threatening her with a large carving knife. This implausible 'happy ending', along with a few inconsistencies with the earlier films, and way too much of DJ Fran, go to make this one for Psycho completists only.
OllieSuave-007 This is an enjoyable final chapter in the Psycho trilogy, returning Anthony Perkins one final time to the screen as Norman Bates, who this time calls into a radio station to tell his story about his mother to the DJ doing a segment on matricide.It's a intrigue-filled TV movie that cleverly tells the relationship between Norman and his mother and how her domineering and uncaring ways brought Norman to matricide and then, finally, to insanity. Henry Thomas plays a young Norman Bates well - convincing, vulnerable and edgy - and Olivia Hussey plays a Norman Bates with stunning beauty, yet with craftiness and spitefulness.While the movie focuses on the origin of Norman Bates' insanity and crimes (which I thought could have been made a little more creepy), the plot adds a twist to it in the part where the adult Norman (Anthony Perkins) tells the radio station that he intends to kill again, throwing everybody into added suspense. Everything then comes full circle to a fitting conclusion of the trilogy.Grade A-
Zbigniew_Krycsiwiki The explanation by the good doctor at the end of the original Psycho is expanded, in laborious, uncomfortable detail, here, and to lesser effect.Awkward TV-movie shows us in far too graphic of detail the abuse and trauma experienced by a young Norman Bates at the hands of his mother, and how that drove him to kill. The story is played out through a lengthy series of flashbacks, as Norman is a caller on a radio talk show about matricide. Fairly interesting premise, but watching someone physically, sexually, and psychologically abusing their kid is extremely difficult to watch, and after a while, the viewer feels almost as traumatised as Norman.The set design was fairly dull, too.
sunznc My least favorite of the series. CCH Pounder and Henry Thomas do a good job with their character's as does Tony Perkins however, the entire production seems on shaky ground, seems weak. Something very much lacking here. I don't think Olivia Hussey was particularly well cast for this. She has the look but at times her accent comes out and there were moments when her performance just didn't seem sincere. Almost as if perhaps she herself wasn't quite sure what to do with the role. Nothing seemed fleshed out here. We almost learn too much and that is never a good thing. But of all the sequels this one lacks the most bite, never really grabs you and shakes you. Psycho 2 and 3 are actually quite good and this isn't bad, there are some good moments, but nothing excellent. Lastly, Norman's wife is very dry and cold. I can't imagine that she would make anyone think of marriage or sex, not even Norman Bates.