Following two decades spent in an institution, Norman Bates (played by Anthony Hopkins) is deemed sane and released, a decision resisted by Lila Loomis, also known as Lila Crane from the initial film (portrayed by Vera Miles). He returns to his mother’s former home and motel where he develops a friendship with a kind waitress in town (Meg Tilly). However, certain residents of the area are unwilling to allow him any peace. The initial portion of “Psycho II” (1983) provides an engaging continuation of the 1960 original, featuring an unanticipated storyline development roughly around its midpoint—a genuinely welcome surprise. Following this point, the narrative tends to slow down within the unsettling house, with some twists and turns that feel somewhat forced as those involved attempt to keep the audience guessing about who is responsible for the killings. Ultimately, everything is more or less clarified at the conclusion through another disclosure, and what transpired becomes understandable upon reflection. I say “more or less” because the truth isn’t completely explained. While I value that the film shows consideration for the viewer's understanding, a bit more clarity would have been beneficial in my opinion. Regardless, "Psycho II" incorporates various aspects of the original while broadening the narrative scope. What distinguishes the Psycho series is its unique storyline and Norman’s portrayal as a sympathetic figure. It functions as a genuine tragedy, differing from the typical slasher film where the villain is an emotionless killing machine and the victims are primarily teenagers enjoying themselves. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 53 minutes, and like its predecessor, was filmed on the backlot of Universal Studios in Universal City, California. GRADE: B EXPLANATION ***SPOILER ALERT*** (Do not proceed unless you've watched the film) Miss Spool killed Toomey, the boy, and Lila. Mary’s killing of Dr. Raymond was accidental. Lila was spiteful, but she wasn't a murderer. Norman only kills Miss Spool at the very end. As for whether she was actually Norman’s mother or not, that is addressed in “Psycho III” (1986).

Source on TMDB