Psycho III

Religion, Violence, Perversion. Psycho III is no doubt the most eccentric and unique film in the franchise. It’s the most Slasher-y, but it’s still a character study at its core. Directed by Perkins himself, this definitely feels like the most “Norman” film of the bunch. We go deeper into his psychology as most of the film is from his perspective. This is also stylistically distinct from the other films - there’s exaggerated neon colors, more sexuality, there’s multiple chiaroscuro lighting, giving the film a noir vibe, and it’s even a bit camp. It has queer vibe to it, which links to Perkins’ personal life. The landscape and the motel itself have a great atmosphere and this, to me, is the film with the best atmosphere and aesthetic/mood in the franchise. It’s lusciously southern gothic and sleazy. The performances from everyone is great, and there’s lots of cool set pieces. I also really enjoyed the final act. I can’t believe Perkins doubted his directorial efforts in this film. This is an outstanding debut and this film is definitely one of the slickest slashers of the 80s, alongside Psycho 2. All in all, Psycho 3 earns the top spot as the best film in the franchise, rivalling Psycho 2. A very underrated film. PSYCHO RANKED