PSYCHO III
US, 1986, 93 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Perkins, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey.
Directed by Anthony Perkins.
Psycho 3 is an efficiently made macabre thriller. It is also, perhaps, superfluous. While Psycho 2 took the plot in a new direction, Psycho 3 really works -again - Hitchcock's original. There is a flashback to Janet Leigh's shower death. There are more flashbacks to the alternate mother in Psycho 2.
Anthony Perkins reprises the role of Norman Bates and also directs the film. The screenplay, however, does resemble. the multiple murder films of the early '80s. There is some bizarre religious background with Diana Scarwid as a novice who loses her faith, causes the death of a nun in an accident strongly resembling Vertigo and who feels that she can save Norman Bates. The film capitalises on the split between Norman's own personality and that of his mother. But most audiences would be not surprised to discovery Norman's identity with his mother at the end.
1. The impact of Psycho as a classic? Hitchcock masterpiece? The sequel over 22 years later? The necessity for this third film? Reworking the original material?
2. The '80s and the mass murder genre? The goriness of the killings? Madness? Did Psycho 3 add anything more to the series?
3. The background of California, the desert, the town, Bates' motel? the famous house - interiors, the well-known exterior? The touch of American Gothic? Editing and pace? Special effects? The variety of musical themes for characters and situations?
4. The prologue and the novice? The touches of Vertigo? Her loss of faith, the nuns, in the convent, the old style, threats of Hell, the death of the nun, her leaving, wandering the desert, being picked up by Duke, his sexy approach, her fear, running off in the rain, the escape, the search for somewhere to stay? The preparation for the encounter with Norman?
5. Anthony Perkins, presence as Norman Bates? From the previous films? The screenplay link with Psycho 2? His memory of Marion Crane's death? His killing of his mother? At the motel, suspicions, the attitude of the townspeople and the sheriff? The arrival of Duke, the interview, the job? Work-around the motel? Norman and the presence of his mother? Psycho over again? The girl and her being pleasant, his looking at her going to the bath, her slashing her wrists and his saving her? The effect? The date, the pleasant evening? her discovery of the truth about him? Her leaving and his disappointment? Her return? The possibility of each helping the other? Her accidental death? His laying her out with the candles (almost like a saint)? Norman and his mother, the, conversations, the mother in shadow, the story of sexual repression, the possessive mother? The arguments? Duke's girl and Mother killing her? The guests for the sports contest? The next murder?, The reporter, the interview with Norman in the cafe, her snooping about the house, the confrontation? her discovery of the truth in the house? Duke and getting on with Norman, his death, Norman driving the bodies to the lake, drowning Duke? The sheriff and his support, Norman concealing the bodies in the ice? His madness, the arrest, his going off in the car? His mother's hand in the car? His battering of Mother to death? A character? Caricature?
6. The nun, her coming to the motel, desperation, suicide attempt, her memories, her love for Norman, fears, the priest and his psychological approach, belief in God disbelief, returning to save Norman, her death, her being laid out with candles - and attitudes of holiness?
7. Duke, tough, his music, the guitar, getting the job, the pursuit of the girl, in the town, discussion with the reporter, the girls, back to the motel, sexual kinkiness, throwing the girl out brutally, his death?
8. The reporter, her snooping, the article, harsh manner, money, investigations, interviews about Norman's mother, newspapers, discovering the truth, the confrontation with Norman?
9. The sheriff and his helping Norman, the,p611ce, the discovery of the truth? The sheriff's disappointment?
10. Mother and her power, hold over Norman, sexuality, Norman's repression, arguments, fights? Norman as his mother? The murders? In her dress? Killing her? The hand in the car? His final smile?
11. To what purpose - nightmare? Horror? Relationship to the original?
