Underrated PSYCHO prequel comes to Blu-ray.
Alfred Hitchcock’s stark, blackly comic horror landmark PSYCHO needs little introduction and certainly, it needs no defense of any kind.
PSYCHO is PSYCHO. Peerless and, 56 years after its release, still as powerful and affecting as ever.
But its sequels often do need defending.
The Tom Holland/Richard Franklin 1983 sequel PSYCHO II usually gets most of the love and it deserves it. It’s a cracking follow-up, one that no one expected to be as fantastic as it was and is.
PSYCHO III was derided upon release but the Anthony Perkins-directed third film is rather majestic, a European-styled arthouse slasher drama with an amazing cast and a rich sense of pathos (read our essay on the film here).
But director Mick Garris‘ made for cable 4th film, PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING rarely gets the attention it deserves.
Maybe it will get more love when Scream Factory unleashes it on Blu-ray on August 23rd.
The movies stars Perkins, Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey in what is a prequel to the classic Hitchcock original. The release features new extras including audio commentary with director Mick Garris and Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey, and an interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner.
Here’s the synopsis:
A seemingly rehabilitated Norman Bates (Perkins) is drawn to a late-night radio show where the host (CCH Pounder, DEMON KNIGHT) encourages him to share his views on the topic of matricide. Reliving his childhood, Norman recounts his trials as a young boy (Thomas) living with his widowed schizophrenic mother (Hussey, BLACK CHRISTMAS). These haunting memories are more than just disturbing visions of the past; they threaten to rekindle his killing urge…
Special Features include:
- NEW Audio Commentary with director Mick Garris, actors Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey
- NEW The Making of Mother an interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner (27 minutes)
- Rare Behind-the-Scenes footage from director Mick Garris
- Photo Gallery of rare photo from Mick Garris
Have you seen PSYCHO IV? What are your thoughts?
