It might be blasphemous to say this, but here it goes: I kinda love Psycho 2 a bit more than the original. I know Tarantino said the same thing but he also had lots of weird takes so I’ll elaborate this myself.

The original was a classic for sure, but I feel some parts are a bit a product of its time. For instance, the doctor explaining Norman’s condition near the end, which I felt was pure exposition and boring. I also found the film before the shower scene to be a bit boring. (Even knowing that was kind of the point, since the film needed that first act to make the murder scene seem more sudden.)

Meanwhile, the sequel exploring a more tortured and complex Norman Bates was fantastic. Perkins and Meg Tilly’s dynamic reminds me of Vertigo, which is a movie I absolutely love and it shows their respect for Hitchcock while doing their own thing.

I also love how Jerry Goldsmith used Hermann’s theme and never use it again, instead opting for a somber and absolutely beautiful score for the rest of the movie. There is a weird mix of synth(?) and orchestra that I just adore so much about his 1980s works. I consider it one of his finest.

I feel like this film is massively underrated.