Psicosis III

*** 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.

My fave of the series, this one has a bit more going on than last time. There's also a lot of throwbacks to the original, like Leigh look-a-like Scarwid getting Perkins all aroused, Maxwell investigating Perkins kind of like Balsam in the first, and a stabbing scene very similar to the infamous shower one, with the exception being this times its in a phone booth. This entrys a little more routine than part 2's, with that being a whodunnit. Here, you know whodunnit and basically the characters are more interesting than the story. You wouldn't know Perkins directed with it looking pretty much like any movie youve ever seen with capable photography. And as in the classic part 1, he has it end with his wacko grin glaring up at us. Of course.

Psycho III is not better then the first 2. But it is still really good. It stars Anthony Perkins, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey, and Roberta Maxwell.

plot: A nun named Maureen Coyle (Diana Scarwid) accidently murders another nun, so she runs away. She hitchhikes on the road, a guitar player named Duke (Jeff Fahey) picks her up. Later on that night, Duke tries to rape Maureen, but she escapes and walks the rest of the way. Duke needs a job because he needs money to get to LA to become a rock star. He goes to Bates Motel, where the original psycho Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is the manager. Norman makes Duke the assistant manager. Norman goes to the diner and runs into a reporter named Tracy (Roberta Maxwell) who wants to interveiw him about the people he killed. But he sees Maureen with a suitcase with the initials M.C on it. Norman thinks its Marion Crane, the girl he killed in the shower in the original, and she has returned from the grave. So Norman freaks out and leaves. Maureen tries to kill herself in the bathtub while a new killer in the black dress and grey wig wants to kill her, so Norman runs to her aid. He brings her to the hospital. Later on, Norman lets her stay at the motel. And later on girls at the motel start to get killed. Who is it? Has Norman returned to insanity? Is Duke willing to kill to get to LA? Will the reporter kill to get her story? Find out who is behind the black dress and grey wig this time, and rent or buy Psycho III!

This has the basic 80's slasher stuff: nudity, gore, unknown killer, and horny teens. If you like the original Psycho, the 2nd Psycho, or like 80's slashers, rent or buy Psycho III!

this time around you seem to have more of a slasher type 80's film , meaning that there is a lot of teens, school age kids partying at the motel. with Norman's strict upbringing by his mother, his morals come into play here. Jeff Fahey is playing Norman's assistant in running the motel, a nun who has lost her way stumbles upon the Bates motel, upon seeing her Norman is reminded of Marion Crane, he instantly falls for her. seeing that suitcase with the initials M.C. on it certainly must have brought back memories for poor old Norman. although it is not as good the previous entry, it isn't that bad either, the score is very good, the cinematography is great, i think this one suffered a little on the plot, this one seems more campy the Psycho 2 but it's not bad either.

I'm not lying, appart from Psycho IV (The concept had died out by then) this is the most underrated Psycho film. And, no matter what anyone says, if you like either Psycho or 1980's horror flix, you should like this. Perkins revises his role and the supporting cast help him along in his ageing role as geeky motel-man "Stormin'" Norman Bates. Mother takes on an even more horrific theme and the madness of Perkins is far more obvious. Perkins directs well and reveals things in a very Hitchcock style, and, even though the Hitch sertainly would NOT approve of this film, I liked it. The comedy ellement is combined with the horror. The spoof of the shower scene left me rolling on the floor (if you can laugh at that sort of thing!). The main problem is the high rating of the film (R in the States and 18 in Britain). The Hitch went through his career taking care of what he showed people, and by this stage in the Bates saga, it was just a see all know all knife flick. 7.5/10 (Not as good as Psycho II) Rated R. Contains scenes of a Sexual Nature, Nudity, Swearing and scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.