Psycho II (Film Review)

1983 Universal Pictures
Directed by: Richard Franklin; Written by: Tom Holland
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, Meg Tilly, and Robert Loggia
MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 113 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 7/10

Norman Bates is free. Twenty-two years ago, he was declared innocent of murder by reason of insanity. Back then, he'd dressed up like his dead mother, the psychotic Norma, THOUGHT he was Norma, and murdered several people at The Bates Motel, which he managed. Now, after completing years of therapy in a mental institution, he's declared mentally fit enough to re-enter the world. Following his worst possible impulse, which is somehow allowed by the court, Norman moves right back in to his old house overlooking the motel, and starts managing The Bates again. Lila Loomis, the sister of a woman Norman once killed, is none too pleased. Meanwhile, Norman befriends a young woman named Mary, after a short stint at a local diner. Will the temptation of a nearby beautiful woman bring the murderous Norma Bates back to life, or will Mary help curb Norman's nefarious instincts?
Psycho II is far better than it has any right to be. Stylishly directed by Hitchcock acolyte, Richard Franklin (who also directed the very fun thriller, Road Games), Psycho II takes many unexpected twists and turns, some more welcome than others. Anthony Perkins reprises the iconic role of Norman Bates, brilliantly bringing both a kind, sympathetic quality to the character, as well as an undeniable menace. Perkins ensures that the threat of Norman falling back into old ways feels just as tragic for Norman himself as it does his potential victims. As potential victim number one, Mary, Meg Tilly has incredible, platonic chemistry with Perkins. I never thought a scene where a character tells another "You smell just like the cheese sandwiches my mother used to make," would make me tear up, but as a frightened Norman hugs a kind and accepting Mary in the dark of night, I most definitely sniffled at least a little bit. I don't know how much Tilly tested with Perkins during the casting process, but she's an excellent choice for this character, and she nails this performance as the mother poor Norman should have had.
These emotional, humanizing moments are what make Psycho II work. The film does feature some gnarly kills, and there are certainly some suspenseful moments here, but I found myself more worried about the possible dissolution of Norman and Mary's friendship than I did about anyone losing their life to a mysterious figure that looks like Norma. That latter mystery is eventually revealed, and then, in a way, revealed again, as the script dictates that Psycho II must have multiple twists. However, those twists, in the last ten or so minutes, suck the humanity out of a film that up until those moments, is borderline brilliant.