Psycho IV: The Beginning

"You've met Norman, now meet Mother..."

1990 1h 36m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 318

HorrorMysteryThrillerTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When he hears talk radio host Fran Ambrose discussing the topic of matricide, Norman calls in under a false name to tell his story.

“You've met Norman, now meet Mother...”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

AMC Plus Apple TV channelSubscription

AMC+ Roku Premium ChannelSubscription

AMC+Subscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Anthony Perkins
Norman Bates
Henry Thomas
Young Norman Bates
Olivia Hussey
Norma Bates
CCH Pounder
Fran Ambrose
Warren Frost
Dr. Leo Richmond
Donna Mitchell
Connie Bates
Thomas Schuster
Chet Rudolph
Sharen Camille
Holly

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mick Garris
Writers: Joseph Stefano
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Psycho Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mick Garris, shot by Rodney Charters. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Graeme Revell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Charles Bornstein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Anthony Perkins and Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "You've met Norman, now meet Mother...".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mick Garris directs. Rodney Charters behind the camera. Graeme Revell scores. Charles Bornstein cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
236 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Psycho Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Mick Garris, shot by Rodney Charters. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Graeme Revell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Charles Bornstein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Anthony Perkins and Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "You've met Norman, now meet Mother...".
9IMDB entry: tt0102724 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 9 themes, including "psychopath", "motel", "sequel", "flashback".
11Released under 19 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Rodney Charters
Original score: Graeme Revell
Editing: Charles Bornstein
Production design: Michael Z. Hanan
Costume design: Mary Ellen Winston
Makeup / hair: Tony Gardner
Stunt coordinator: Glenn R. Wilder
Runtime: 96 min · 1h 36m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $800,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

Part of

Psycho Collection

Series of American horror films, loosely based on the "Psycho" novels by Robert Bloch, which focuses on the deeply disturbed individuals who operate the Bates Motel.