Its reputation is high now but it was a ballsy move to make in 1983 - how many long gestating sequels to classics pay off? It holds up well. It's a classy movie - respectful, very well made and acted, has a solid throughline: the gaslighting of Norman Bates. Tony Perkins is superb as Bates - different from his last incantation, a sane person driven insane; he has a kind gentle nature that works so well for the character, plus of course that intelligence. Meg Tilly matches him beautifully - sympathetic, seemingly innocent, vulnerable... Richard Franklin should have used her (and them) in Link. She had her moment in the sun, Tilly, then sort of vanished. (I think voluntarily.)
Tom Holland wrote a very good script - decent twists, clever homage, intelligent - and there is excellent music from Jerry Goldsmith. Very strong support cast including Robert Loggia as a sympathetic shrink person (Maybe this should've been a female but I guess they wanted to do a Martin Balsam homage), Vera Miles reprising her role as Lila (they kill off poor old John Gavin's Sam), Dennis Farina as a great murder victim.
There's a bit of gore and some slashes (notably Perkins grabbing on to a knife) but not a lot - it is mostly psychological and suspenseful. Very scary. Classy movie.
You know for the sequel they should've just put Mary Loomis (Meg Tilly) in a coma and had her come out of it.
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