This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

After pretty much determining the future of the Norman Bates character in the terrible third sequel, this fourth effort instead takes a look back at the most grotesque mother-son relationship in the history of cinema.For a basic plot summary, "Psycho 4" sees Bates (Anthony Perkins) call into a late-night radio show dealing with the crime of matricide. Through flashbacks, Norman describes the key moments of his childhood that eventually led him to become the strange character we all know.In terms of just overall plot and drama, this is a pretty good film. It paints a very interesting portrait of Mr. Bates, and ultimately helps us understand why he makes the major, final decision of his life at the film's conclusion. In comparison to other horror film sequels, this one stands up quite nicely.The major problem with the movie, though, are the parts set in the present-day. The huge plot hole is that the Norman Bates we see in this installment could seemingly never have emerged from the complete maniac present at the end of part three, with little to no explanation of the dramatic turnaround. Essentially, the flashbacks are intriguing but the "current" storyline goes lacking.Of course, a review of any "Psycho" film would not be complete without a critique of Anthony Perkins' performance, as he (once Hitchcock bowed out) become the face of the franchise. Though I have to give Perkins credit for turning in a spectacular performance (well, four of them really), there is also a hint of desperation that is kind of sad, considering that Perkins' only other notable career role is playing Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out". However, that being said, I can't imagine the Psycho franchise without him.Thus, while this film isn't a classic by any means, it is decent horror/drama and a fitting wrap to one of the most psychologically-intriguing horror series of all-time. It still doesn't hold a candle to the original, but also doesn't drag things on like Halloween or Friday the 13th, either.

Mick Garris delivers a film with visual flair and style, yet in this horror sequel, the lack of story is the most disturbing element.This is a film overly fascinated with back story – something that should be expected from a prequel, I suppose – however, this is why it crumbles. The wonderful subtext that was present in the original Psycho film and even the sequels, is now front and center. The abusive relationship between Norman and his mother is no longer left to the imagination, but is now displayed clearly as a main feature of the movie. While getting a chance to finally meet Norma Bates piques our interest, it could never possibly hope to do justice to all the build up from the last three films. (An over- dramatic performance from Olivia Hussey doesn't help.)The movie in some ways is representative of the Psycho franchise, an incredible opening, a slightly disappointing second act, an interesting and dazzling third, and a sputtering failure for the fourth.Henry Thomas gives a tremendous turn as a young Norman Bates, while Anthony Perkins does as well as he can with the material he's given. Overall, however, these performances and the slick visuals can't carry this generally overacted and poorly written TV drama.

Well Norman Bates is out of the psychiatric hospital again and he's married...to a psychiatric nurse. He's at her house while she is out working and he is listening to a radio programme talking about sons killing their mothers. Naturally he calls in and most of the movie is made up of him telling the show about his life. On screen this is done through flashbacks. He warns the show that he has to kill again and we find out he has to kill his wife as she's "allowed herself to get pregnant". He phones his wife and tells her to meet him at his mother's house. Despite her knowing his history she willingly obliges. Maybe she too is crazy.There are a few "What the hell?!" moments that really don't need to be there.On the radio show Norman refers to himself as 'Ed' and maybe the film should have been called 'Psycho IV: Ed, are you there?' as this one line is repeated constantly and becomes very annoying.The actress who plays Norman's mother seems like she's reading her lines off a prompt at times and even her screaming seems unnatural. She's a very poor actress.I wanted to see Anthony Perkins be Norman Bates again, but he only really is in the last ten minutes or so. The rest of the time he is completely wasted.His wife really does seem crazy herself as she is very forgiving (and instantly forgiving). It's like "You nearly just tried to hunt me down and kill me and the baby with a knife but, forget about all that, I love you and our baby will love you".I realise this was a TV movie rather than a theatrical release but it simply is no good. It is a waste of the Psycho franchise. Maybe Perkins knew his time was limited so he agreed to do it, but it's a shambles of a movie.

When I first watched the movie Psycho I wasn't a big fan of the ending, I felt that it was missing something and it was too predictable. I continued to watch Psycho II and Psycho III, all of which I found quite the same, it's not that the acting wasn't good, in fact the acting was fantastic, but it was that the story was missing something. In Psycho IV everything that was missing was found and it made the first three movies worthy of watching because without them you wouldn't feel any kind of emotions of sympathy for Norman Bates in IV but without IV the story wasn't complete and felt wrong. I love Psycho IV because it emphasizes that people truly can change and Norman triumphs over his illness. Who doesn't love a good happy ending, right?