Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302113174
Edition: Vhs Video
Format: Color
ISBN: 6302113172
Label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Number Of Items: 1
Publication Date: 1991-08
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 1993-08-11
Running Time: 96
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1990-11-10

Customer Rating:
Summary: Norman Bates joins a talkshow
Comment: Psycho IV is basically an attempt to squeeze one last movie from the series, and keep the Bates character alive. Norman Bates is listening to a talk show on the radio when they just happen to begin talking about matricide - killing one's mother. They are interviewing a doctor whose career and sphere of expertise deals with the same subject. Norman seems to be a bit irritated with the direction of the show, so he calls in to give his history.

Quickly enough it is discovered that Norman killed his mother, and kept her corpse for the conversational value - basically Weekend at Bernie's with murder. Medically speaking, Norman is a friggin loon, and a danger to society. It's this complete insanity, and the suggestions from his "mother", which led him to being a schizophrenic, cross-dressing, Freudianly jealous, psychopathic killer.

The resot of the movie is a cat and mouse game between the host, the doctor, and Norman, with Norman spilling his past details between massive quantitites of dead-air and awkward silence. Meanwhile, the others attempt to weed through the insanity in order to prevent another murder, which Norman has admitted to planning.

It's not exactly a seamless transition or addition into the Psycho series, and it's nowhere near the original Hitchcock masterpiece, but it's a decent adaptation that's rewatchable because of Anthony Perkins' incredible creepiness and convincing acting.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Fast Shipping, box in decent used condition, movie in good condition
Comment: I was very pleased with how quickly this order came through. I ordered "Psycho 3" from a different person on Amazon on the same day and STILL have not recieved it. So I'm very pleased that this one came so quickly. The box was somewhat beat up and had a few stickers on it, but I was prepared for that. I'm very happy with my purchase and will use this seller again.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: This Is What Life Was Like...... Synaestethic!!
Comment: ( Synaestethic is a condition where a revelation goes on for past generations through the life spand of humans )

This was no dount the best Psycho movie. Psycho IV - The Beginning! This is really packed with a surprise ending and a radio station asks Norman all about what drove Norman crazy but it is just driving him more to murder of his PREGNANT WIFE! He goes to kill his pregnant wife and it is also Normans birthday and instead of bringing her to their house, he brings her to the mansion where he plans to get his murder. The past and the presesnt will be a whole new life for Norman, but for the surprise ending, do you think its possible for Norman to be normal with a child or a deadly fierce killer?


Grade: A ++

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: The Best Prequel for Horror /Supsense series
Comment: Psycho 4 was the best prequel for a horror series. This movie clearly explains why Norman Bates was the way he was. The cast was also wonderful. I believe it was also Anthony Perkins final movie before he passed away. This movie is definitely a must. One question.... Where's the DVD? Release it soon! Thanks!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: A teriffic finale to the series...now where's the DVD??
Comment: Now that this VHS version is no longer even available, Universal simply MUST release this superior sequel on DVD. I've got the tape, but you know, these things don't last forever. :-)

I really think the Psycho films were truly among the last truly quality horror film series. The film, unfortunately did not benefit from a theatrical release. It was, instead, sent directly to the Showtime cable network in 1990. This was a time when moviegoing horror fans were been subjected to the 5th "Nightmare on Elm Street" film and the EIGHTH in the "Friday the 13th" series. I guess Psycho IV's producer weren't confident that aging psychopath Norman Bates (and aging actor Anthony Perkins) would find much of an audience among the slaser fans.

And that's a shame, because both Perkins and the film itself offer a worthy conclusion to the series. Psycho IV was written by Joseph Stefano, who wrote the original film based on Robert Bloch's novel. Stefano, himself a long-time recipient of psychoanalysis, gives the story of Norman Bates' childhood a harrowing (yet occasionally poetic) realism. And although Perkins' role is reduced due to about 70 percent of the story being presented as flashbacks, it just might be his best performance ouf of all four films.

Now that Universal has finally given us decent DVD releases of Psycho 2 and 3, it's time to complete the series.

---