The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 101

nrrt' FRIDAY, JUIY 4, 1986 Clir Atlanta journal AND CONSTITUTION 1 hovih mvizvi Norman's back, and so is Mother By Scott Cain SUM Writer f. i tiiii Y' RODNEY 1 1 DANGERFIELD Film stars Anthony Perkins and Diana Scarwid. The question: Does the world need "Psycho III?" The surprising answer Yes. The latest installment in the "Psycho" saga is one of the most shrewdly-blended horror flicks in many full moons. "Part III" contains an abundance of Grand Guignolish thrills, a nail-biting amount of suspense, much macabre humor, considerable poignance and even a touching romance.

Can you believe it? Norman Bates' finds a girlfriend. This development alone justifies the existence of the movie. Audiences have always felt sorry for Norman, even when they were shocked by his bloody deeds. They believe that Norman might have led a happy life under the right circumstances. He's one of those people who wants desperately to be like everybody else, but he gets stung every time he emerges from his spooky homestead.

AS the story opens, the forlorn Bates Motel is back in business. Norman has installed a new ice machine. The sheriff and the chef at the diner are searching for Mrs. Spool, the woman in "Psycho II" who told Norman that she was his real mother. A guest at the motel is Maureen (played by Diana Scarwid of Savannah).

A runaway nun, Maureen is close to a nervous breakdown, being unable to reconcile vows of chastity with her craving for amorous experience. Also staying at the motel is Duane (Jeff Fahey), a raunchy, wisecracking drifter who is headed to Los. Angeles, where he fancies he will become a rock 'n' roll star. Insde the house on the hill, Norman is doing his best to keep calm, but Mother is in a crabby mood and becomes even crabbier when Maureen shows an interest in Norman. Dire events occur.

Anthony Perkins, who seems hardly have aged a day since he first played Norman 25 years ago, is both the star and director of "Psycho III." As a director, he has done everything right, drawing solid performances from the supporting cast and telling the story in an exciting way that bears comparison to Alfred Hitchcock's endlessly-analyzed original. When the director is also the star, there's always a danger that he will either, out of conceit, give himself too much of the limelight or, out of modesty, not i. because he is honest and quickwitted. As a reporter doing a story on the insanity defense, Roberta Maxwell treads a narrow wire skillfully. At first, the reporter's persistent questioning of Norman seems inexcusably rude and (we know but she doesn't) is practically guaranteed to send Norman into a deadly tantrum.

Later, her snooping pays off and she gives Norman a bit of information which seems likely to ease his mind for the rest of his life. The press is not all bad, after all. "Psycho III" is 10 times better than "Psycho II," which was not an embarrassment but was uninspired. The third chapter is a worthy companion piece for the original and that is high praise indeed. If this level can be sustained, we can look forward with pleasure to "Psycho IV." "Psycho HI." A horror film, directed by and starring Anthony Perkins.

Rated for violence, profanity, sexual situations and nudity. 3 A PAPER CLIPPratjfiici An ALAN METTERfiiid RODNEY DANGERFELD "BACK TO SCHOOL" SALLY KELLERMAN BURT YOUNG KEITH GORDON ADR1ENNE BARBEAU ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. SAHK1N1S0N and NED BEATTY as'Dean Marin' DANNY ELFMAN imm PntaESTELLE ENDLER MICHAEL ENDLER HAROLD RAM1S Produced byCHUCK RUSSELL Scmnpiay bySTEVEN KAMPMANN WILL PORTER and PETER T0R0KVEI 4 HAROLD RAMIS CTJPSW siorv hvRODNEY DANGERFIEIMREG FIELDS I DENNIS SNEE Dnu-hMJUl HETTER Cotarl)DtUK mttiM AVAIUBLEONl STHONGlf OUTIOMIpl CHECK TIMES DAILY IN STEREO SOUND AnORlOil OALUHIAMALL.l-il5tHWV.4l 2 Ml. NORTH OF 1-281 952-0888 2943179 1:30.3:30.5:30.7:30.9:30 10:30,11:30 I 4043 LAVISTA RO. 1 1049 PONCE OE LEON AVE.

I 934 7153 I B73 1939 i 12:30,3:00,5:30,8:00, 10:30.12:30 2:15,4:10,1:05,8:00,9:55 NOW aciuns nms PLAYING! PLEASANT HILL BO 476 0431 997-6717 2:10,4:10,6:10,1:10,10:10 2000 MOHELAND AVE. SE. 677-5786 1:15,3:15,5:15,7:15,9:15 fflMOMlS 1-20 AT CANDLER RO. 24-6147 give himself enough, but Perkins does a fine balancing act Perkins has often spoken of Norman as the Hamlet of horror roles and, if this can be taken as a meaningful analogy, then Perkins has become the Barrymore of horror actors. He has a wider variety of significant twitches and grimaces than any other actor except Clint Eastwood, who is the Olivier of the Twitch-and-Grimace School.

Miss Scarwid is a perfect leading lady for Perkins. She makes Maureen the female equivalent of Norman a decent soul who has not received a fair shake. Miss Scarwid is nice looking without being a dazzling beauty. If Norman were to fall in love with Nastassja Kinski, the situation would be preposterous. As it is, when Norman and Maureen exchange a delicate kiss, the audience bursts into applause.

It's a tremendously satisfying moment. Jeff Fahey brings a lot of hot-blooded sass to the role of Duane, the down-and-dirty traveler whose path crosses Maureen's several times. Even though Duane is a cad, Fahey makes him strangely likable f. )(M ill JCT. ROSWELL RO RTE.

19 LEGAL EAGLES (Ml) 7:009:30 RUNNING SCARED 88 ABOUT LAST NIGHT (Ri 33 PSYCHO HI (B)l 5:30 7:30 9:30 1 THE GREAT MOUSE 1:003:00 DETECTIVE (O) 6:00 7.00 9:00 taBIMLIAMS PETEEOimE (f'TT TT TTC in at old national 767-9636 PEACHTP.EE 4 PIEDMONT 733-7191 ircTsn 7:40,10:10, 12:30,3.00,5:30,1.00, 13:10 ipjp UFOHOHWV. AT CLAIRMONI 371-3601 1.10.3:20.5:30,7:40,10:00 MBIlRBIVD IU1 Ofl-5l QA. 13BATI.85SOUIH 0. 975 1376 I 9690606 1:50,3:50,5:50,7:50,0:50 1:10,3:20,5:30,7:40, 0:50,12:00 FT. 14 FMOHHOW INlC'slVOI 968 3119 i mm The vacation you'll never forget-no matter how hard you try.

-v ItfwSJi mflm i ffiwi W0 'X OUR THEATRES ARE DElXHTMir, AIR CONDITIONED! $950 SHOWS BEFORE 5:30 at TOWN WATIOWAL SHANNON 12 OAKS! T.50TDESDHYS UTTOWT TOP GUN I70MM-6 TW POLBYi 2:00 4:20 7:00 9:40 12M PG RUTHLESS PEOPLE 100 3:05 5:20 7:35 9:5011:45 KARATE KID 2:154:407:109:50 12M GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE KC 3 00 5 oo 7W 9 oo FERRIS BUEUER wo 3 15 5 30 8 00 W-151215 PG-13 RUNNING SCARED 1:404:107:30 10051? -15 LEGAL EAGLES 1:504:307:159:50 12:10 LABYRINTH 1:003:105:207:4510:00 12M PSYCHOIII 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:15 9:45 11:45 RUNNING SCARED goo 4 30 M09 35 11 45 RUTHLESS PEOPLE 1:05 3:15 5 20 7:30 OO 11:50 COBRA 1: 15 30 5:25 7:45 10: 10 12M BACK TO SCHOOL 3:20 5:30 7:40 9:50 12M PG-13 LABYRINTH 1:00 3:20 5:30 7:50 10:10 12:10 TOPKflT (Dolby) 2: 10 4:35 7: 15 9:45 12M PG KARATE KID 2:104:407:109:4011:50 UHDER CHERRY DOOM 1:00 3:105:20 7:30 IQflO 12M PG-13 RUNNING SCARED 2fl0 43S 7 20 50 12M BACK TO SCHOOL 1:003:105:207:40 10:10 P6-13 TUP BUN 2-00 4:30 709:30 11:40 PG FERRIS BUELLER PG-13 WOI-MOY" TO 00 HOMTOtl VIMO TOP GUN 2:154:407:159:50 PG BACKTO SCHOOL 1:103:20 5:30 7 40 1000 PG-13 MURPHY'S ROMANCE 005:157:30 HMO PG-13 idmjiMMkM tin MSLDLAL 3:10 5 20 7:30 9:50 JAKE SPEED THE MOh'EY PIT 3005:15730945 5:20 7:40 950 RAW DEM. 3:105207:309:40 12M THE CRAVIN8 3:205257:309:45 12M LABYRINTH open ftoo-SHOW starts at dusk pg PSYCHO III open oo-SHQW starts at push mnui uiro CHECK TIMES DAILY gENKWt CfTCTNS' DISCOUNTS EVgBY DA VI lit r3H 'u- it 44 wCLU3PASADISErt JIMTOQiFF-TWiGGY ADOIf HCAESAREUGENELEVY-a3d JQAMACASSIDY mm. PG-13 rnniTwiwwaTeUTimtBo 4mm wlwl, 8WnaWl'lI I 934-7520 4" PlsantldatII PEACHTRbEi hIoMONTJ 233-2151 I I TOWN IROSWEU RD I HOICOMB Sol I 993-7684 I I HWY. 41 N. SOUTH OF 1-285 I MORP.OW INO BLVD I I 955 1795 I 968 3119 CENTER AT COBB 4265400.