As much as I admire Anthony Perkins’ acting chops, Psycho IV: The Beginning is really only for those desperate to complete the full Norman Bates saga. It tries to do double duty—acting as both a prequel and a third sequel—but that’s about as ambitious as it gets. Beyond the novelty of seeing young Norman brought to life by a surprisingly capable Henry Thomas, the film doesn’t give you much reason to care.

Directed by Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), Psycho IV premiered on Showtime, and it wears its TV origins like a neon sign. Static shots abound—case in point, the opening close-up of a man’s lips (not Norman) yammering about murdering his mother—and a lot of the details feel undercooked. Still, it’s not a total loss. Perkins is Perkins: always fascinating in his unsettling way, and CCH Pounder anchors the film as Fran Ambrose, the radio host who fields Norman’s confessions with the kind of no-nonsense authority only she can deliver.

The plot finds Norman living in suburban bliss, wife by his side, baby on the way, and calling into a radio show to casually chat about matricide and the urge to kill again. From there, we plunge into his childhood trauma, courtesy of Olivia Hussey’s motherly madness (Romeo can wait—Juliet’s got her hands full). Norman’s mental struggles are laid bare, revisiting the 1940s and 1950s and the beginnings of his first murders. It’s interesting…until it isn’t.

One of the more memorable scenes in Psycho IV: The Beginning comes early, setting the tone for both the horror and the psychological drama. It’s when young Norman (Henry Thomas) first witnesses the intensity of his mother’s control. Olivia Hussey, as Norma Bates, delivers a chillingly calm yet suffocating performance as she manipulates her son with that mix of tenderness and menace.

The scene unfolds in their dimly lit home: Norma is seated, sewing or reading, while Norman hesitates nearby, anxious and nervous. The tension isn’t from flashy scares—it’s the quiet dread, the heavy sense that every word he says could either earn her approval or unleash her wrath. The camera lingers on small details: a twitch of her eye, Norman’s trembling hands, the ominous shadows cast on the walls.

It’s the kind of scene that reminds you why the Bates mother-son dynamic is terrifying, even without blood and gore. The psychological strain, the claustrophobic atmosphere, and the sense of inevitable doom all combine to make this a standout moment in an otherwise uneven film.

Ultimately, the production feels rushed and a touch amateurish, a reflection, perhaps, of early ’90s TV-movie sensibilities. There’s talent here—Henry Thomas is a revelation, Warren Frost pops up as Dr. Leo Richmond, and even John Landis sneaks in—but the pacing drags, and the narrative leaves a “so what?” aftertaste. Norman suddenly cured? Yeah, right.

If you’re after the dumb fun of A Nightmare on Elm Street sequels, there’s some of that here, but don’t expect a deep dive into Bates’ psyche. Bates Motel looked intense? Peek behind the curtain in Psycho IV—just don’t expect to be blown away.

4K Ultra HD Edition

Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - February 26, 2024
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Video: HDR10
Audio: LPCM 2.0; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; three-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Twenty-two years after the infamous murders at the Bates Motel, a now-“rehabilitated” Norman Bates is released from the state hospital and attempts to rebuild his life. But as he returns to his childhood home and reopens the motel, strange phone calls, shadowy figures, and ominous notes signed “Mother” begin pulling him back into the nightmare he thought he’d left behind. Anthony Perkins delivers a haunting, career-defining return as Norman in this smart, suspenseful, and unexpectedly emotional sequel.

VIDEO

Arrow Video’s 4K release of Psycho IV: The Beginning delivers a surprisingly sharp presentation for a made-for-TV entry in the Bates saga. The restoration from the original camera negatives gives the film crisp detail and pleasing HDR grading, while the stereo audio keeps dialogue and score clean. Special features shine, from archival commentary with director Mick Garris, Henry Thomas, and Olivia Hussey, to visual essays and behind-the-scenes featurettes that explore the music and makeup effects.

While Psycho IV remains the weakest of the four films—slightly bland and slower than its predecessors—the Arrow edition makes it a must-have for completists, offering top-tier video quality and thoughtful extras that elevate an otherwise uneven chapter in Norman Bates’ story.

AUDIO

The Arrow Video 4K release of Psycho IV: The Beginning features a clean stereo 2.0 audio track, faithful to the film’s original television mix. Dialogue comes through clearly, which is crucial for the many radio show scenes where Norman confesses his darkest thoughts, and the score by Danny Elfman is well balanced, giving the eerie moments the tension they need without overwhelming the dialogue. While it’s not a multi-channel surround experience, the audio faithfully preserves the film’s atmosphere, making the claustrophobic and psychological horror moments effective for home viewing.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• See Special Features.

Special Features:

The Psycho II 4K UHD release is exactly the redemption arc this film deserves. It’s cleaner, sharper, moodier, and more atmospheric than it’s ever been, and the upgraded clarity really underscores just how smartly shot this sequel is. No, it doesn’t dethrone Hitchcock—frankly, it doesn’t try to—but in this format, you can see just how confidently Richard Franklin crafted something worthy of the Bates legacy.

DISC ONE – PSYCHO II (1983)

• Brand-new 4K restoration from the original camera negative
• Audio commentary with director Richard Franklin and writer Tom Holland
• New interview: The Return to Bates Motel – cast and crew reflect on resurrecting a classic
• A Broken Mind: A newly produced analysis of Norman Bates’ psychological arc
• Vintage making-of featurette
• Anthony Perkins archive interview
• Behind-the-scenes stills and promotional gallery
• Theatrical trailer & TV spots
• Optional English subtitles

DISC TWO – PSYCHO III (1986)

• 4K restoration from the original camera negative
• Audio commentary with screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue
• New interview with actress Diana Scarwid
• Norman Directs: A look at Anthony Perkins’ experience behind the camera
• Deleted and extended scenes (where available)
• Original electronic press kit
• Image gallery
• Theatrical trailer
• Optional English subtitles

DISC THREE – PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING (1990)

• HD remaster from archival film elements
• Audio commentary with director Mick Garris
• New interview with Henry Thomas
• Mother’s Boy: Olivia Hussey on playing Norma Bates
• Behind-the-scenes footage from the set
• Script-to-screen comparison for key sequences
• Still gallery
• Original broadcast promo
• Optional English subtitles

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