Psycho II (1983)

 

It's been 22 years since Norman Bates' murderous rampage at The Bates Motel.  He has been released from a mental institution and Lila Crane is enraged her sister's killer is a free man.  Norman returns home and tries to reacclimate by taking a job at a diner, where he befriends waitress Mary.  He offers her lodging at the motel after a spat with her boyfriend and they grow close.  But just as stability seems on the horizon, Norman begins receiving notes and calls from "Mother."  Soon bodies begin piling up.  Soon it is revealed Mary is Lila's daughter and the two have been in cahoots to make Norman think he is going insane.  Lila is killed shortly after and Mary is erroneously blamed for the murders.  Norman is later visited by Emma Spool, who reveals herself as his biological mother and the one responsible for all the recent murders.  Upon hearing this, he grabs a shovel and takes her out.

Making a sequel to Psycho (1960) has insurmountable odds against it.  Originally considered for a made-for-cable movie, Psycho II was greenlit for theatrical release after Anthony Perkins signed on.  Vera Miles also returns as the intense and angry Lila Crane.  Psycho II is an excellent sequel filled with suspense and twists and is better than it should be.  Critics weren't too kind but the film grossed over 30 million dollars, leaving vacancies for more sequels.

Location: Kern County Court Building

Address: 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA

Location: The Bates Motel

Address: Universal Studios Backlot, Universal City, CA

Location: Fairvale Hotel

Address: Courthouse Square - Universal Studios Backlot, Universal City, CA

This area is seen in Gremlins (1984) and Back To The Future (1985)

Location: City Hall

Address: Courthouse Square - Universal Studios Backlot, Universal City, CA

Hitchcock's former bungalow can be seen on the Studio Backlot Tour...

Locations Visited: June 2024

Related Locations:

Psycho (1960)

Locations Master List

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956)

 

A disheveled Dr. Miles Bennell recalls his harrowing experience of body snatchers in his town of Santa Mira to a psychiatrist at a nearby hospital.  Several of his patients have claimed loved ones have been replaced by emotionless imposters.  Miles soon sees for himself when bodies of his friend Jack Belicic and girlfriend Becky Driscoll are found in their homes and tries to notify authorities to no avail.  After seeing truckloads of pods being delivered, an exhausting chase scene endures as Miles and Becky try to flee from the rest of the town.  Miles is finally taken seriously after someone is brought in after being in an accident with a truck full of pods coming from Santa Mira and the FBI is alerted.

Invasion of The Body Snatchers is based on Jack Finney's novel from 1954.  Mill Valley in the Bay Area was considered for Santa Mira, but due to production costs, parts of Hollywood, Glendale and Sierra Madre were used to convey the small town.  The film was not a critical fave, but Invasion of The Body Snatchers' creepy story makes it a sci-fi/horror classic, spawning several remakes.

Location: Emergency Hospital

Address: 4401 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

KCET Studios

Location: Santa Mira Train Station

Address: 22043 Marilla Street, Chatsworth, CA

Location: The Drug Store/Bennell's Office

Address: 38 W Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA

This area was also seen in Halloween II (1981), Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

Location: Wilma's House

Address: 1635 Rancho Avenue, Glendale, CA

Location: Sky Terrace Playroom

Address: 21150 Dumetz Road, Woodland Hills, CA

Woodland Hills Country Club

The building used for filming has been torn down...

Location: Becky's House

Address: Formerly at 1927 Rodney Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Location: The Hot Dog Show

Address: 4300 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA

Location: Max's Gas Station

Address: Formerly at North Virgil Avenue & Lexington Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Location: The Alleyway

Address: Behind 1710 N Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Location: The Gas Station

Address: 2690 Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles, CA

This is the same area a promo shot of the movie was taken, though it was not used in the film...

Location: The Bottom of the Stairs

Address: Between 2748 & 2744 Westshire Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Location: The Top of The Stairs

Address: 2823 Pelham Place, Los Angeles, CA

Location: The Cave

Address: 3200 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Bronson Caves

Location: Running Past Trees/The Bridge

Address: 6741 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Locations Visited: July 2024

Locations Master List