Fails to offer much beyond a bunch of psycho-sexual babble.

Even as it goes back to Norman’s traumatic adolescence, this is also a putative ending, as Norman seeks to ensure that the ‘bad seed’ he has inherited is never passed on. It is a gothic melodrama of twisted redemption, and (perhaps) also a new beginning.

A feeble addition to the Norman Bates canon.

…reprises some of the greatest hits of the original film, like blood running down plugholes, slow swamp burials and amateur taxidermy...Psycho IV: the Beginning is probably a lot better than any fourth sequel should be…