I loved the film although I probably am a tad biased because it was my first acting job - I played the Public Defender for Norman Bates (one line - “Congratulations Norman.”) It was the very first day of shooting and here I am in a scene with Anthony Perkins, Robert Loggia and Vera Miles! Insane when I look back at that day. They were all incredibly nice and so unpretentious. I remember Vera telling me how she didn’t come into town much anymore because she lived full time in mountains near Big Bear. I spent a good portion of the day on set sitting next to Tony, and he was very chill, although cognizant of the magnitude of this sequel. I remember him showing me how to hide our coffee cups behind props so they were out of the cameras sight line. Richard Franklin was incredibly nice as well. At any rate, I really liked the film at the time and was disappointed with the reaction to it. It’s nice to see Tarantino and a bunch of folks here enjoyed it as much as I did.
That's incredible, psycho 2 I saw when I was in middle school on AMC mid 2000s, I love it one of the best sequels, have the set on Blu-ray it's a great October binge.
Psycho II is such a well crafted sequel, it gives you so much more character backstory, plus that scene with the shovel gave me chills because of how intense it is. I wish it was received better by audiences but I always loved it ever since I first watch it as a teenager in the 90's and still do and love to re-watch it.
Not sure people will agree with me, but I feel up until the early 90s, "sequels" were not the lazy reboot, rehashed, copycat cash-grabs that they are today. In the '70s and '80s sequels were almost their own thing, either a solid continuation finding new ground or something almost separate from what came before.
“Psycho II” has a criminally-underrated Jerry Goldsmith score… this was one of the first movies I could ever remember seeing as a kid: it played on ONTV back in June of 1984 along with “The Secret of NIMH” and “Blue Thunder.”
Anthony Perkins himself was no fan of Jerry Goldsmith`s score. That was the reason he hired Carter Burwell to score Psycho III because he wanted to get as far as possible from that score.
@@Wildcock23 Well, do you own the official CD soundtrack to Psycho III by Carter Burwell, released by Intrada Records? If so then please read the liner notes. If not then go to Carter Burwell`s official site and read Mr. Burwell`s own words from his recollections of his collaboration with Anthony Perkins. Then you will realize it is not bullshit at all.
@bisseborjesson9533 That proves nothing. If you have the CD to 'Psycho II' you will read about how Perkins cried on hearing the main theme by Goldsmith and asked for a copy of it. There is no chance that anyone who isn't tone deaf, would consider Carter Burwell a better composer than Jerry Goldsmith. His work on 'Psycho III' backs that up - the score is mostly lots of weird noises and pots and pans banging about. As for the off-key chanting for the murder scenes, that alone sounds like a feeble imitation of Goldsmith's fantastic score for 'The Omen'.
I've been telling people literally for years that Psycho II is the MOST underrated horror sequel - other than the Exorcist III - which literally should be considered Exorcist II. They are DAMN GOOD movies that would be considered as such - if it were not for their predecessors. As a teen I always thought it would have been received better if it had been filmed in black and white like the original. Seriously - take Psycho II and make it a black and white film - and it's a horror movie classic,
It's been so long since I saw Psycho II that I can't recall much about it. Saw it when I was about 16 or 17 years old when it first came out. But as for Exorcist III, I agree that is a highly underrated horror movie. The original Exorcist is still the one I view as the all-time most scary movie, but the 3rd one was still very solid. Second one sucked.
The Exorcist III literally IS The Exorcist II. In the sense that the author of the book which _The Exorcist_ is adapted from wrote a sequel to that book, and that is what _The Exorcist III_ is an adaptation of.
@@dildonius The Exorcist II is literally "The Ninth Configuration", written, directed and produced by William Peter Blatty (writer and director of The Exorcist)
An insanely underrated voice. The opening credit sequence intercutting the shower scene, slowly colorizing into the sequel, was bone chilling and tastefully handled.
A friend had psycho 2 on vhs growing up and we watched it SO many times, more times than anyone should watch any movie. I might have been 10 or 11 and it always messed me up. I definitely need to revisit it. It’s easily been 20 years since the last time I’ve watched it.
My favourite is Psycho 3 Not only is Maureen In The Desert my favourite ever piece of music, but you really see in that film how much the victim he actually is, he genuinely doesn't want to be the way he is and it was also his best performance out of all the films if you ask me
Anthony Perkins was great in this and also made a great Inpector Javert in Les Miserables (1978). He was also great in Crimes of Passion(84). Meg Tilly is definitely an underrated actress in both this & Agnes of God(85).
Psycho II is a cracking movie, with some classic moments, especially that scene in the kitchen at the end. Perkins was a legend, always entertaining to watch him, whatever he’s in.
It’s one of the best sequels in the horror genre ever. The cinematography, music score and the acting, were all masterclass. Most of all, it had the coolest VHS box artwork, with Norman’s silhouette in front of the creepy Psycho house just before dusk with storm clouds brewing, with mother at the window. That and the box artwork of Halloween 2 and 3. Scared me as a kid back in the 80’s, when checking out the video rental horror section. Such a lost art with movies being streamed now?
I agree it's a brilliant sequel, and in my opinion even better than the original. I also think it could be the best horror sequel ever made. I too loved the era of the video store in the 80s, and those classic covers. There was just something about it that was magical. The discovery of all those films you didn't know existed, right there in front of you for the first time at the video store.
Lord I used to love to go into the mom & pop video stores as a kid and look in the horror section. The boxes for Psycho II and Halloween II & III definitely stood out. Another one that stood out was the VHS cover for a little horror movie called Eyes of Fire. When you flipped it around, there was the pic of the tree witch from movie. Scared the shit outta me!
@@thebrowithnoname1703 Yes!!! Plus Halloween 3’s poster art was very similar to Psycho 2, which was creepy as hell with those trick or treaters silhouettes walking down the street, with a red sky in the background. What truly freaked me out, was reading the back of its VHS box, only to see a screenshot of that kid wearing that jack o lantern mask of Cochran’s, knowing what his fate would be?(schoolyard chatter 😆). Up until that point in time, children were NEVER victims in a horror/slasher film, so the very thought of this kid(similar to my age) being murdered, was very disturbing? That alone, probably gave me nightmares to no end! I’m going to google search that Eyes of Fire now lol!!! I so miss the 80’s. Such a magical time as Peter mentioned.
@@crazyralph6386 It was magical. My parents were big movie people and knew the video store clerks by their first names. Looking back, it was a comforting communal affair that we all took for granted. Eyes of Fire was a little indie horror movie that was made in 1983, released in theaters in ‘85 and released on home video ‘87. And I remember distinctly that picture of that kid with the melting jack o lantern mask on the back of the Halloween 3 box! An American Werewolf in London had a great VHS cover, and when you flipped it, there was a pic of the werewolf in mid-transformation.
I just recently rewatched Pyscho II for the second time in 30 years (because I didn't see it upon its initial release) and I loved it!! I thought it was so entertaining, well written and directed. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it.
@@maartenvangeffen4508 Doctor sleep isn't a bad film but has nothing on the original. A sequel can never ruin an original piece no matter how bad the sequal is. The original will always still be it's own independent art. If I don't like a sequel I just don't watch it again.
I recently watched Psycho 2 for the first time and was VERY pleasantly surprised by it. It was a dark mystery that kept me engaged the entire time, and the acting was spectacular. Highly recommend. There were a couple things that left me scratching my head, but that didn't take away from my final outcome which was a film I will definitely be watching again.
Spoiler alert: …yes that it was the old lady doing all the killing throughout the film. I like the fact that they showed Anthony and his breaking points. But I think they could’ve gotten more agile aggressive old lady to portray his real mother at the end of the movie vs elderly woman they chose.
I've always preferred Psycho II to the original, because it really develops Norman as a character. He's so empathetic in that film because of Perkins' fantastic performance. You want so badly for him to succeed and have some semblance of a normal life, but it's not to be. It's a beautiful, tragic story, expertly directed by Franklin, gorgeously shot by Cundey, and hauntingly scored by Goldsmith. All in the service of Tom Holland's fantastic script.
I feel like personally the more you see of the character the less scary and intimidating. It’s like if jack survived the shining and the sequel was a psych analysis of him. But I see why some would prefer more depth
@@formerfilmstudent8349Psycho 2 is really less a horror film and more a redemption/drama story, its sort of like how Terminator 2 or Aliens is a completely different film than 1.
@@rnw2739 I mean his performance is frightening. A madman trying to kill his wife and kids. And how deranged he is. I put myself in that situation and yeah I’m scared of him lol
@@formerfilmstudent8349 I can't agree. His feeble wise cracks and chat show host announcements sort of detract from any menace he might have had. Also, he is just as 'mad' from the very start of the film so I don't see where this terror cones from, but glad you like it lol.
Psycho II is a good film, actually. Anthony Perkins did a really good job in it. I love the line that goes something like this, "But I don't want to kill her Mother. She's a nice girl. She's not like the others, Mother."
@@jameswatrous4399 I promise you it is Psycho III. I am obsessed with this franchise. Haha. He was speaking to his Mother about Maureen (III), not Mary (II). But, I would still rewatch them because they are great films!
In 'Psycho II', the only line that comes vaguely near what you quote is when Norman is on the phone to his mum and his eyes slowly turn on Mary... "No mother, Mary's still here with me. I like her. No, no of course not, not as much as you. No, I won't do that. You can't make me.......kill her. Do I have too, mother? But why? Why do I have to kill her? Please mother, please don't make me. I don't think you understand about Mary, mother. She's really very kind. I trust her. She would never do anything to hurt me...."
I remember Psycho 2 played in heavy rotation on HBO, in the early days of HBO where they had limited movies, so they repeated often. Little Orphan Annie, Kentucky Fried Movie, Police Academy, Body Double, Conan the Barbarian...all seemed to ALWAYS be on. I was 14 in 1984. My 17 year old sister had part time job at a Hardees. She'd bring home leftover food. So we watched Psycho 2 while I gorged on cheeseburgers, slathered in mustard, because that's how they made them. Give me a fast food cheeseburger with mustard today, and I still recollect sitting on the floor Indian style, watching Psycho 2.
I remember paying for another movie and then sneaking with a friend in to watch Psycho II - before I'd ever seen the first movie- when I was about 11. We loved it!
Psycho II is one of the best sequels to any film ever and is even better than the original imo. The script is brilliant, the cinematography is brilliant, the casting/acting is brilliant with Anthony Perkins giving a golden performance, the music is brilliant, and the ending is brilliant. Other than the gore effects the movie has no weak points but unfortunately over time it's fallen into the shadow of the groundbreaking original, but everyone who's seen it loves it. It's as good of a sequel to Psycho as there could've been.
Psycho 2 is Excellent. Definitely the Best performance of all time in a horror movie by Anthony Perkins. I agree with Quentin Tarantino. I also feel Anthony should have won 3 Academy Awards for Psycho 1 and 2 and Friendly Persuasion. Great Actors were great in the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and Anthony Perkins is at the top of that list. Psycho 2 is just as Awesome today as it was in 1983. Anthony Perkins will always be impressive and so are his talented sons Osgood and Elvis. Watch Psycho 2 everyone, it is well done, #1 Horror Sequel of all time, #1 Performance. Happy October. Happy Halloween. P.N.
I don't always agree with Tarantino, but he's spot on here. I was a kid in this era, I saw 2 & 3 on cable before I ever saw Psycho. I think the sequels were great, maybe because I didn't have that attachment to the original.
I saw it at a friends birthday sleepover party on VHS back in the 80’s, and it scared the living crap out of me! I swear I had nightmares for days on end, after seeing they boyfriend getting stabbed to death after sneaking into the basement. That image of his hands sliding down the window before he dies was quite traumatic for a 8 or 9 year old back then!!!
Hitchcock turned young adult during World War I and finally could enlist in 1917... In 1919 he got his first entry into the movie industry. There's more at his wiki page (after his night school stints): "but the English workers were encouraged to try their hand at anything, which meant that Hitchcock gained experience as a co-writer, art director and production manager on at least 18 silent films". To me what his films have is 1. Technically excellent 2. The focus on the basics of stage drama. Everything is done simply but to a very high almost perfect standard that is consistent. Just look at how much experience and range of skills he had.
There's even a blink-and-you-miss moment where there's a silhouette of Hitchcock in a scene, a tribute to the man who always sneaked himself into his own films.
I gotta admit I was so surprised with how good this movie actually was. Something that you would think would be set up to fail and yet surprised a lot of us
I've always loved this movie. Psycho 2 also has one of my favorite theatrical horror movie posters. That poster scared the shit out of 8/9 years old me.
Psycho II is the perfect sequel. It's not just more of the stuff of the first movie but a natural progression of Norman's story. It's a clever who-dunit which slowly moves into horror. Goldsmith's score is wonderfully melancholic, and also downright terrifying.
Oz Perkins is in the beginning of Psycho 2. He is young Norman reflected image in the doorknob. He has written and directed very well, most accomplished talent. His brother Elvis wrote the musical scores for Pretty thing that lives in the House and Blackcoats Daughter. Oz's daughter is in Gretal and Hansel, the little girl in the pink cap, & great cast. I lived long enough to see Anthony Perkins grandkids, his grandson and granddaughter are in Pretty thing that lives in the House at the very end & great cast. Oz has worked with a lot of great actors. Blackcoat's Daughter great cast also. Oz and Elvis Perkins are very talented and most impressive. Their father Anthony Perkins and grandfather Osgood Perkins I am sure are watching from above and are very proud.
I finally watched it a few years ago when I heard Tarantino loved it. It’s definitely a masterpiece. Expands on the story while paying homage to what made the original great. Dean Cundy’s cinematography is glorious
I watched it on cable all the time on cable as a kid. I thought it was B-horror until I saw it as an adult a few years ago. Perkins commits perfectly to that character in 2. He is Norman. He was built for that role imo.
I'm so pleased that Tarantino appreciated this film for it's intentions. It proved a lot of people wrong and is clearly warranted as a sequel in any franchise in my opinion. It was so well done (I wasn't too struck on the whole Emma Spool twist) and it was a shame that the two further sequels didn't keep to the tradition that this film did. I agree totally that Perkins was incredible in this film and had much more character to play with with a lot longer screen time too. It was a shame that Perkins and Tilly didn't get on because their scenes were amongst some of the most heartwarming of the series. The score is also wonderful by Goldsmith. So many highlights of this film which I still think is overlooked.
Tom Holland did a great job writing psycho 2. Not the Tom Holland flying around in Spandex in those SUPERGAY movies. The Tom Holland that directed Childs play and fright night
for a long time i had an edited version of this movie that i recorded off tv with my vcr. and even then i thought it was fantastic. the gore effects were good, but it's a great movie with or without them. this movie is about great performances. especially from tony perkins and meg tilly.
I loved psycho 2! it had twists and turns!! got you thinking up to the end! Great cast and story! Perkins was top notch and really got you routing for him
Listening him talk about movies is always interesting, I also like how the fact he likes some movies could rehabilitate them sometimes... He's not following a consensus saying " this is Art ", " this is not ", he has his own opinion and that's admirable.
Psycho II is not the landmark classic that the first movie was. But considering everything it had going against it, it was a surprisingly solid film. It was definitely better than almost all of its contemporaries in the horror genre.
I have always preferred 'Psycho II' over the original - call me a heretic, but that's the truth. I'm not sure what it is about the film that makes it so good and rewatchable for me.... It could be Goldsmiths score, the wonderful Meg Tilly, the fact that we root for Norman and genuinely want him to do well..... all these elements combine to a wonderful degree and make this film a masterpiece to me.
Look up all of Anthony Perkins movies. He also had a great singing voice, spoke french fluently, talented on the piano also. Great family man, loved by many.
I think its not quite a sequel. Its Psycho 1 extended and brought into the next generation of viewers. First one confronted people with smth relatively new called psychology and the unthinkable horrors of it. Psycho II confronts the viewer with the resocializing debate. Does it work? What are the risks? How would people react to a person. How would the life be for the person and so on. Really great movie.
Just heard this movie existed. Thought it was practically a joke. Nice to see that something with a premise like this is actually well liked. I'll have to give it a try sometime.
could lisen to quetin talk about films all day long, anyone who has real love and passion for something is always a pleasure to lisen too. quetin is like a human google when it comes to films, is there any film he hasnt watched ? its beyoung even that, he knows what actors were in it, what films thay did befor it and after it, its like he has the entire history of films world wide and all actors directors lives and history in his head, amazing mind he has
I think that what people was afraid of was that Psycho 2 was going to be given the slasher movie formular. I remember going to see it in the theatre and thinking I am scared but this is good. My mother who took us all had seen the original in the theatre she totally approved of the sequel!
Richard Franklin did what Alfred Hitchcock did in the original. He gave us a mystery with an assumption and then flipped it. It was fantastic direction and a damned good story.
Perkins gave amazing performances in every film he was in, check out some of his other stuff too. But yes Psycho 2 is a masterpiece, and I remember watching it and rooting for Norman, just like he says in this video.
I remember being a kid and seeing Psycho 2, I mentioned that it was pretty good and all the adults around me, scoffed and condemned me for being too young to know the difference. So hearing Tarantino talk about it 30 years later and say what I felt at the time is truly validating in a funny sorta told ya so way.
interesting that Tarantino was not 'overly enamored' with Psycho yet seemed to pay homage to the film during the Pulp Fiction Butch/Marcellus traffic stop scene.
Psycho II is better than the original to me. I think Anthony Perkins became Normon Bates in Psycho II vs, just being a one dimensional cardord-ish boy in the first one. Most original sequel to a horror movie!
I been locked up a few times. Watching Psycho 2 is so creepy. Upon release jail or asylum's really fucks you up mentally. You gotta catch up with pop culture. New music. Then comes the way people are after lockup. How you try to subconsciously be a better person but not knowing if that monster is still hiding in you or if it was never there in the first place.
Wow before Terminator 2 turned Arnold's villian into a hero for the sequel, there was Psycho 2. Brilliant, I never knew this im definitely gonna have to purchase these films. I also liked Alien and Aliens for subvert expectations and making the damsel survivor in the scifi horror Alien into the fighter in the scifi action horror sequel. That concept of twisting up on a sequel is nice. Unfortunately Don't Breath 2 is a film that attempted this but wasn't as well received critically as the other films.
Dude psycho II is so good I remember just buying the blu ray collection of all of those movies just cuz for a English assignment and so I binged them all and like dude psycho II fucking slaps
I was surprised that all 3 sequels are worth a watch . 2 and 3 are so good knocking you back and forth on whether or not you think Norman is really a psycho and 4 sums up the story well . Perkins is in all 4 .
Anthony Perkins was an amazing actor, and SHOULD have been much more famous than he was. I wish he had gotten more opportunities to do comedy too, as his performances in Catch 22 and on an episode of the first season of Saturday Night LIve were hilarious.
"I'VE... never had a head cold!" Perkins was great in Catch-22! I thought his best performance was in Orson Welles' film adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Trial. It's even more impressive considering how surreal the movie is. My parents saw Anthony Perkins in an off-Broadway performance of Equus with Tom Hulce back in the 70s. The theatre was set up so the stage was in the center and the audience was seated around it looking down as though they were doctors observing. They both said it was amazing.
