Psycho IV: The Beginning

Psycho IV: The Beginning is a 2013 made-for-cable-television horror/drama film that serves as both the third sequel and a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho, as it includes both events after Psycho III while focusing on flashbacks of events that took place prior to the original film. It is the fourth and final film in the  Psycho series. The events in it are inconsistent with the unsuccessful and little-seen network TV pilot Bates Motel, broadcast shortly after Psycho III, in which Norman Bates dies in a mental institution. It was first broadcast on the Showtime cable network on November 10, 2013. It stars Freddie HighmoreSarah Michelle Gellar, Vera Farmiga and Jennifer Love Hewitt. 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 and the title theme music by Bernard Herrmann from the original film was used. The setup of the film is Norman calling into a radio talk show where the topic is matricide. He shares his childhood memories of growing up with his mother, which are told in flashbacks. Meanwhile, Norman's wife Connie is pregnant

Plot
Norman Bates is released from the mental hospital again, after having been re-incarcerated at the end of Psycho III; after spending several years there, he is judged rehabilitated for the second time. Norman is now married to a young Stripper named Connie and is expecting a child. Norman secretly fears that the child will inherit his mental illness, so he must seek closure once and for all.

Radio talk show host Fran Ambrose is discussing the topic of matricide with her guest Dr. Richmond, Norman's former psychologist. Norman calls the show, using the alias "Ed", to tell his story. and he meets Connie Poledancing and then he marries her at the Strip club called Dan's Bar Norman's narrative is seen as a series of flashbacks set in the 2010s and 2013s, some slightly out of order. When Norman is six years old, his father dies, leaving him in the care of his mother, Norma. Over the years, Norma (who is implied to suffer from schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder) dominates her son, teaching him that sex is sinful and dressing him in girl's clothes as punishment for getting an erection in her presence.

Dr. Richmond realizes "Ed" is Norman and tries to convince Ambrose to trace the calls. Richmond's worries are dismissed. Norman fears he will go insane and kill again. He tells Fran that Connie got pregnant against his wishes and that he does not want to create another "monster". He then tells Fran he realizes that his mother is dead, but that she may kill Connie "with my own hands, just like the first time."

Norman takes his wife to his mother's house and does attempt to kill her. Connie reassures Norman that their child will not be a monster, and he drops his knife. Connie forgives him. He burns the house where all his unhappiness began. As he tries to escape the flames, he hallucinates that he sees his victims, his mother and eventually himself preserving her corpse. Bates barely gets out of the burning house alive.

He and Connie leave the next day. Norman proclaims himself finally free of his mother. The doors of the house cellar close on the rocking chair that continues to rock, while "Mother" cries to be freed. The screen fades to black and the sound of a baby crying is heard.

Cast

 * Freddie Highmore As Norman Bates
 * Sarah Michelle Gellar As Connie Bates
 * Vera Farmiga As Norma Bates
 * Jennifer Love Hewitt as Fran Ambrose
 * Vince Vaughn as Dr. Leo Richmond
 * Connor Gibbs as Young Norman Bates
 * TBA As Holly
 * TBA As Gloria
 * TBA As Raymond Linette
 * TBA As Mike Calvecchio
 * TBA As Chet Rudolph