Psycho IV: The Beginning is a 1990 made-for-television prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho which was broadcast on the Showtime cable network on November 10, 1990. The film stars Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas, Olivia Hussey and CCH Pounder.

The film was written by Joseph Stefano, who also wrote the screenplay of the original film. The original musical score was composed by Graeme Revell. The film is a Showtime Original Movie.

Plot summary

Norman Bates is once again troubled. This time he is invited to share memories of his mother with a radio talk show host, Fran Ambrose. He recounts his dysfunctional, emotionally codependent relationship with his mother, his murder of her and her lover, and the further murders he committed as his "Mother" personality.

Norman fears that he may kill again. He just learned his wife is pregnant with his child and Norman cannot let another of his "cursed line" loose in the civilized world (The film implies that Norma was schizophrenic, and passed the disorder on to her son). Although the entire movie implies that Norman will kill his pregnant wife, he does not. The film ends with Norman burning down the Bates mansion to free himself of his past for good. As the film ends and goes to black a baby's cry can be heard, announcing the arrival of Norman's son.

Cast

Production

Psycho IV: The Beginning was filmed in June 1990 at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. The facade of the Bates Motel and the Bates mansion were re-created at the theme park. After filming, the Bates Motel facade was utilized for a haunted maze during 1993's Halloween Horror Nights titled "The Psycho Path Maze". The sets were demolished in 1998 for the construction of the "Curious George Goes to Town" Playground and Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster.

DVD release

Psycho IV: The Beginning was released on DVD in Region 1 as part of a triple feature package with Psycho II and Psycho III on August 14, 2007 by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Soundtrack

There are two unreleased soundtracks of Psycho IV.

CD Promo

This 47 track promo is all of the music from the prequel. It featured Graeme Revells score and remixed versions of Bernard Herrmann's. This was an official disc, but since it only aired on cable, the CD was never released.

LaserDisc Promo

The other unreleased soundtrack on Laserdisc was again promo and unreleased. This and the CD of the film are rare.

See also

• Psycho (1960 film), directed by Alfred Hitchcock
• Psycho (1998 film), a remake directed by Gus Van Sant
• Psycho II, a 1983 sequel to the first film (unrelated to the novel Psycho II)
• Psycho III, a 1986 sequel to the first film
• Bates Motel, 1987 television movie

External links

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