Psycho III (1986) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Anthony Perkins
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey
Rated: R/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Available from Scream Factory
The Bates Motel is once again the site of something evil as the rehabilitated Norman attempts to help a disturbed young woman, Maureen Coyle (Diana Scarwid, Mommie Dearest), who has left the convent because she can’t find any proof that God exists. Maureen bears a striking resemblance to one-time Bates Motel guest Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) which puts Norman on edge. At the same time, a nosy reporter is snooping around town looking into Norman’s past. Suspense, terror and black comedy worthy of the master himself are in hearty supply in the most shocking Psycho of them all!
Anthony Perkins himself went behind the camera for the third Psycho film and while he still brings the good in front of the camera, I don’t think this Psycho is as good as the first two. The plot does away with most mystery and just dips around between Norman losing it again and a young lady that also seems to have issues of her own. The thing is, I just think most those subplots are either wasted or hit and dead end before they should and the movie is hurt for it. They attempted something somewhat different here, but the results are sadly not what they should have been and things seem sloppy and misplaced.
The gore is even turned down a bit here. You don’t need Friday the 13th levels of blood with Psycho, but part two did it as perfect as you could have wanted. Here, we have some neat scenes with violence here and there, they just don’t really bring the goods like before. The best part of Psycho 3 is Perkins in front of the camera as Normal Bates. I wouldn’t call him a bad director, I just don’t think they had much of a story to work with here and it hurts things. The transfer, however, does look really good here. I might even say I liked the look of this film more than I did Psycho 2. I just wish the movie was as good, but it sadly isn’t on THAT level.
– New Audio Commentary with Screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue
– Watch The Guitar: New interview with Actor Jeff Fahey
– Patsy’s Last Night: New interview with Actress Katt Shea
– Mother’s Maker: interview with Special Make-Up Effects Creator Michael Westmore
– Body Double: interview with Brinke Stevens
– Original Theatrical Trailer
