PSYCHO II was released 22 years after Alfred Hitchcock's pitch perfect predecessor and the film came as a surprise (and an insult) to many filmgoers. Many people thought PSYCHO was untouchable and not something to make into a franchise. However, director Richard Franklin (F/X, Link, Road Games) and writer Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child's Play) take the sequel into a new and intriguing direction, while Anthony Perkins delivers a completely nuanced and strong performance as Norman Bates. This is a rare horror follow-up that is not simply a cash-grab.
While the film's predecessor made audiences experience distress with its iconic kill scenes, this sequel makes audience experience more empathic distress, which make the kills in this sequel even more frightening.
PSYCHO II is a rare sequel that not only respects PSYCHO , but is also argued by many passionate horror fans for being superior to its predecessor. It is a film that is rarely re-visited theatrically and deserves a second chance on the big screen! - SERENA WHITNEY (Programming Director)