Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13

Trevor · 10-12-09, 09:21 PM

IMDB link for Psycho II (1983)

Selection made by indiephantom.

These "2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day #" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 Films in 31 Days subset.

General discussion on the 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge goes here, your list for the Challenge goes here.

The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day. You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.

Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day. Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.

Spoiler tags will not be needed, as it will be expected that anyone here has seen the film.

Do not read this thread if you have not seen the film, unless you don't mind the ending being spoiled for you.

Trevor · 10-13-09, 03:53 PM

Underrated sequel. I quite enjoyed this.

clckworang · 10-13-09, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

Underrated sequel. I quite enjoyed this.

I was actually surprised to feel the same way. As a big fan of the first one and Hitchcock in general, I always avoided the sequels. Was it as good as the first one? Certainly not, but it was a pretty solid movie. Plus, I thought it added a bit more to the story that made it a bit more than just the run-of-the-mill slasher movie. The ending was especially good!

Groucho · 10-13-09, 04:00 PM

This was merely "okay" as I recall. The third one was a lot better.

cardsfan111 · 10-13-09, 04:23 PM

I've always enjoyed Psycho II. Has their ever been a case previously where a sequel took place so long after an original (in this case 23 years)? I think it still worked so well because they were able to bring back Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman.

On a personal note, since the sequel came out when I was young, I had seen it several times before I ever saw the original!

indiephantom · 10-13-09, 05:47 PM

This was the first of the Psycho films I saw when I was thirteen and it hit video. It has remained one of the films that I credit with getting me interested in horror. This is how sequels should be. It continues the story of the original film with great ambition. Perkins creates a character that I find myself feeling empathy for and also feeling afraid of. The locations in the film are absolute classics and Franklin does a great job of evoking some Hitchcockian suspense. Dean Cundey's cinematography is quite good and there is an amazing high angle shot when a young girl flees the Bates' house.

Look carefully for an homage to the Hitchcock film cameo in the form of the master's unmistakable silhouette cast as a shadow in Mother's bedroom. Cool touch.

wakwak007 · 10-13-09, 05:57 PM

I liked this sequel a lot. I still remember seeing it in the theatre. (Wheaton K-B) Now that I think of it Psycho 4 was bad either.

indiephantom · 10-13-09, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakwak007

I liked this sequel a lot. I still remember seeing it in the theatre. (Wheaton K-B) Now that I think of it Psycho 4 was bad either.

Yeah, this is one series where I really enjoy all of the films.

Daytripper · 10-13-09, 07:17 PM

I thought this sequel was quite good. And it was well received at the time it came out in the theaters. I remember seeing it in a packed house and the response was great (screaming, clapping, etc). I've seen #3 and #4 and don't remember them being anywhere near as good. I'll have to give them another try.

JOE29 · 10-13-09, 07:18 PM

Yes, all 4 are good. But I really like Psycho II the best.
When he carries that old woman upstairs after he hits her on the head with the shovel at the end of the movie.
that old mother, granny voice comes alive. That really creeps me out.
His mother's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

Daytripper · 10-13-09, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOE29

Yes, all 4 are good. But I really like Psycho II the best.
When he carries that old woman upstairs after he hits her on the head with the shovel at the end of the movie.
that old mother, granny voice comes alive. That really creeps me out.
His mother's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

There are many many creepy and effective scenes in "II". I think the worst, and one that still makes me feel it, is when Meg Tilly goes to fend off Norman with a butcher knife and he grabs it with both hands. By the blade end. And she pulls it from his hands. I remember the audience reacting the most and turning their heads from that.

Trevor · 11-01-09, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardsfan111

I've always enjoyed Psycho II. Has their ever been a case previously where a sequel took place so long after an original (in this case 23 years)? I think it still worked so well because they were able to bring back Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman.

On a personal note, since the sequel came out when I was young, I had seen it several times before I ever saw the original!

Anthony Perkins was really underrated. I enjoyed him in The Black Hole and a couple TV roles as well.

My OCD won't let me watch a sequel without seeing the original. Even if they are unrelated, I just can't do it. And this is one sequel that sort of ruins the original for you. Well, you still appreciated the original when you saw it I imagine, but it definitely would have been better going into it blind, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiephantom

Look carefully for an homage to the Hitchcock film cameo in the form of the master's unmistakable silhouette cast as a shadow in Mother's bedroom. Cool touch.

Missed this the first time, thanks for pointing it out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiephantom

Yeah, this is one series where I really enjoy all of the films.

Usually, when companies make sequels to great works by great directors, the results are awful. I was really surprised that they pulled it off here, not just once, but thrice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytripper

There are many many creepy and effective scenes in "II". I think the worst, and one that still makes me feel it, is when Meg Tilly goes to fend off Norman with a butcher knife and he grabs it with both hands. By the blade end. And she pulls it from his hands. I remember the audience reacting the most and turning their heads from that.

I have to turn my head at that scene every time.

10-12-09, 09:21 PM	#1
Trevor DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12,931	Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 IMDB link for Psycho II (1983) Selection made by indiephantom. These "2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day #" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 Films in 31 Days subset. General discussion on the 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge goes here, your list for the Challenge goes here. The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day. You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after. Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day. Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in. Spoiler tags will not be needed, as it will be expected that anyone here has seen the film. Do not read this thread if you have not seen the film, unless you don't mind the ending being spoiled for you. __________________ current exclusives & comparisons threads - Unwatched film thread - Spending - Challenge Compendium - DVD "upgrades" missing features from original release - DVDTalk Facebook - My Pathetic GamerTag/Score - 31 Day Subset - my horror list My Countdown Counting down to: The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge is Live Last edited by Trevor; 10-13-09 at 05:58 PM.

10-13-09, 03:53 PM	#2
Trevor DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12,931	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 Underrated sequel. I quite enjoyed this. __________________ current exclusives & comparisons threads - Unwatched film thread - Spending - Challenge Compendium - DVD "upgrades" missing features from original release - DVDTalk Facebook - My Pathetic GamerTag/Score - 31 Day Subset - my horror list My Countdown Counting down to: The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge is Live

10-13-09, 04:23 PM	#5
cardsfan111 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,392	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 I've always enjoyed Psycho II. Has their ever been a case previously where a sequel took place so long after an original (in this case 23 years)? I think it still worked so well because they were able to bring back Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman. On a personal note, since the sequel came out when I was young, I had seen it several times before I ever saw the original! __________________ 2009 Holiday Challenge List My Countdown Counting down to: DVD Talk Annual Horror Challenge The horror has begun!

10-13-09, 05:47 PM	#6
indiephantom Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ghost World Posts: 708	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 This was the first of the Psycho films I saw when I was thirteen and it hit video. It has remained one of the films that I credit with getting me interested in horror. This is how sequels should be. It continues the story of the original film with great ambition. Perkins creates a character that I find myself feeling empathy for and also feeling afraid of. The locations in the film are absolute classics and Franklin does a great job of evoking some Hitchcockian suspense. Dean Cundey's cinematography is quite good and there is an amazing high angle shot when a young girl flees the Bates' house. Look carefully for an homage to the Hitchcock film cameo in the form of the master's unmistakable silhouette cast as a shadow in Mother's bedroom. Cool touch. __________________ My October Horror Challenge My Film Collection My 2009 Viewing List

10-13-09, 05:57 PM	#7
wakwak007 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Orlando, Fl. Posts: 460	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 I liked this sequel a lot. I still remember seeing it in the theatre. (Wheaton K-B) Now that I think of it Psycho 4 was bad either.

10-13-09, 04:00 PM	#4
Groucho DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 46,704	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 This was merely "okay" as I recall. The third one was a lot better. __________________ Panda Killers? Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho

10-13-09, 07:17 PM	#9
Daytripper DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,206	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 I thought this sequel was quite good. And it was well received at the time it came out in the theaters. I remember seeing it in a packed house and the response was great (screaming, clapping, etc). I've seen #3 and #4 and don't remember them being anywhere near as good. I'll have to give them another try.

10-13-09, 07:18 PM	#10
JOE29 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Millville, New Jersey Posts: 1,664	Re: Psycho II reviews/discussion - 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day 13 Yes, all 4 are good. But I really like Psycho II the best. When he carries that old woman upstairs after he hits her on the head with the shovel at the end of the movie. that old mother, granny voice comes alive. That really creeps me out. His mother's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.