Once again I am graced with the chance to review another Psycho sequel. This time around I was a bit more skeptical when I first saw this film a couple years back. Mainly because the second film ended on such a great ending I just kept thinking which way will they go from here. What I got was something better than I could of ever expected. Now I won't say that it is better than the second film but the third is definitely entertaining and does work good with the other 2 films. Let the autopsy begin!
Review: Psycho 3 takes off where the second film ended and now Norman is still taking care of his hotel but he has a new manager and he also befriends a soon to be nun who has had a dark past filled with death and suicide. Along the way he is having to cover up what happened in the second film as well as deal with the demons that keep haunting him especially that of his mother. The only question that needs to be asked is who will survive this visit to the Bates Motel?! For this sequel it's kinda cool to see that Anthony Perkins himself has reprised his role and Norman Bates for the third time as well as he took seat in the directors chair. Unlike the second film this one did not keep me in suspense like the previous film did, this time it seemed to be more straightforward horror. Also the violence seems to be amped up and a bit more brutal. One thing I will say is that this also like the other two has an awesome ending that is quite chilling yet satisfying.
The cast this time around has of course Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates along with some other very good actors/actresses that do some pretty good characters. Now I didn't find many of them to be quite so memorable, but of them I did find a couple that stayed with me after the film was over. Those few are the new manager Wayne Duke (Jeff Fahey), the suicidal nun Maureen (Diana Scarwid), and of course demented momma's boy Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). I remembered these three the most because of how each one of them brought their character to the film. Anthony Perkins takes Norman Bates to the edge of insanity this time and you can finally see the breakdown of a serial killer. Maureen was just a torn and tormented person who did not know what to do with herself and she is haunted by her past. Wayne Duke (Jeff Fahey) was one of those characters that is somewhat of a scumbag at first that shows his true colors as the film progresses.
When it comes to the gore there is a good amount in this film and when it is shown it looks damn good. There is nothing that I haven't seen before which is just fine because when it comes to a film like this I am not looking for unique kills and crazy amounts of gore. Instead I look more for great suspense and and twists that leave me wondering. This is a sequel that is kinda rare because most films by the time they reach the third film they usually suck really bad. For me this one is a very good sequel that does deserve the praise that it gets and should be watched by anyone who likes the first two films.
The presentation on this release is once again top notch and is restored quite well. They cleaned the picture up, but only to the point it needed to be and they did not scrub away the film grain with DNR. The overall picture is great and definitely an upgrade from the older DVD release. The audio is great as well and is available in both 5.1 HD Master Audio and 2.0 HD Master Audio. Both are clear and simply great. There is one thing that There is only one thing I could find wrong about this release and it is that it says 1983 for the year this film was released when it was actually 1986, this could be fixed by the time it reaches shelves in September. The special features on this release are a Theatrical Trailer, Audio Commentary with Screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue, and Interviews with actors/actresses Katt Shea, Brinke Stevens, and special make-up effects artist Michael Westmore. Overall this is a damn good release and is the definitive one that is currently available!
-Daniel "Damnation" lee
Director: Anthony Perkins
Lead Actor/Actress: Anthony Perkins
Genre: Horror
Blu-ray Release Year: 2013
Theatrical Release Year: 1986
Time Length: 93 mins.
Rating: R
Region Code: A
Release Company: Scream/Shout Factory
Website:
www.shoutfactory.com
ADDITIONAL SCREENSHOTS:
Once again I am graced with the chance to review another Psycho sequel. This time around I was a bit more skeptical when I first saw this film a couple years back. Mainly because the second film ended on such a great ending I just kept thinking which way will they go from here. What I got was something better than I could of ever expected. Now I won't say that it is better than the second film but the third is definitely entertaining and does work good with the other 2 films. Let the autopsy begin!
