Cheap Psycho IV: The Beginning (Video) (Anthony Perkins, CCH Pounder) (Mick Garris) Price

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Customer Reviews of Psycho IV: The Beginning

A welcome final curtain for Anthony Perkins
This is surprisingly good, the return to form being more down to the return of original Psycho scriptwriter Joseph Stephano than anything else. The story again takes on a more psychological approach and analyses problems rather than just being the stalk and slash frenzy of its predecessor. That doesn't mean it lacks thrills, and there are plenty of these as the film flashes back to Norman's childhood. The recasting of the young Norman (E.T. star Henry Thomas) and his mother is effective, but once again, it's Anthony Perkins who steals the show. A gaunt and ill looking figure (he was dying of A.I.D.S. at the time, but hid it from those around him because of prejudices prevailing at the time), he wears more obvious make-up than usual, which looks somewhat odd. The usual set of the Bates Motel is abandoned by Norman, and to some extent we feel as safe as he does in his 1980s house until he returns to the Motel at the last minute and keeps us in suspense until the end of the movie. This works well and is largely due to retaining some of the main factors that made the original work, Perkins, Stephano, but also in moving on from the hotel and changing the style slightly. Sadly there were to be no more Psycho films starring Perkins, as he died the following year at the age of 60.

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"MOTHER" comes to life....realistically!
Like so many other reviews of this movie, I have to preface this by saying that "PSYCHO IV" is not a great film...however, it is the best of the PSYCHO spinoff-sequels.

Featuring excellent performances by Olivia Hussey (as "Mother") as well as CCH Pounder -- formerly an underused character actor, now notable for her performance on TV's "THE SHIELD" -- (as talk show host Fran Ambrose) -- "PSYCHO IV" sticks pretty closely to the original story from Robert Bloch's novel and the original "PSYCHO" film as license to delve into Norman Bates' troubled childhood, prequel-style (Joseph Stefano, who wrote the screenplay to the original film, penned the script for this one, is evidently largely responsible for this).

First, Olivia Hussey.

When I first heard about this movie, I was skeptical that "Mother" could be portrayed on screen, especially by Hussey, primarily notable for her onscreen/dramatic turn as Juliet in the classic Franco Zeffirelli film adaptation of "ROMEO & JULIET." However, and to abbreviate my feelings for her in this role, she hit the nail on the head.

Secondly, CCH Pounder.

CCH's turn as Fran Ambrose really carries this movie. The scenes during Norman's on-air confessional are easily the most compelling, and, while not taking away from Anthony Perkins' finely-honed portrayal of Norman's insanity, this is mostly due to Fran Ambrose's subtle (and not-so-subtle) reactions.

Of course, there are numerous moments in the movie that detract from all these positives. The ending is just weak (I usually stop the tape as soon as Norman hangs up on Fran for the final time). Additionally, there is an altogether jolting cameo by John Landis (as the radio station's programming director) which usually distracts me.

All in all, I'd rather watch this movie than any of the other "PSYCHO" sequels any day. It's *reasonably* intelligent, it's got an altogether perfect cast, and it sticks to the story at hand. Definitely recommended.

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Bates Checks Out
I often wonder what Alfred Hitchcock would have thought about the sequels generated around the iconic Norman Bates character that he visually created in his 1960 film PSYCHO. Joseph Stefano's original screenplay was superbly realized under Hitchcock's direction and Anthony Perkins' portrayal of Bates. Stefano is back at the scripting helm on this movie, which was originally produced for the home Pay-TV market. This movie is composed of a series of flashes from Bates' present (where Bates is engaged in interesting banter between a psychoanalyst and a Radio Phone-In host) to his past (where Bates recalls his painful and dysfunctional childhood). I have pondered the merits of this film over time. Where the character of Norman Bates may have been a screen creation of Hitchcock and Stefano, it is Perkins who owns this role and he has it down to a perverse yet enigmatic attraction for the viewer. Anthony Perkins is Norman Bates and that is the main appeal of this move and it is worth seeing.