10 More Horror Movie Answers Fans Had To Wait For
All will be revealed...
When a horror film becomes a hit, it's bound to spawn a sequel or two (or ten). Although some franchises churn out more of the same, this strategy can get stale very quickly. So, to keep things fresh, follow-ups tend to expand on the lore, explore the origins of villains, and answer all sorts of lingering questions.
Of course, unearthing some big truths can have a significant effect on a beloved horror property, for better or for worse. After all, do we really need to learn about Hannibal Lecter's childhood or the backstory behind Jason Voorhees' power?
Sometimes, exploring an iconic character's backstory or motivation is greatly appreciated, especially if the details have been hush-hush for years. Other times, it ruins the IP's mystique, to the point where fans refuse to acknowledge it - much like Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.
However, these unsolved mysteries aren't always important in the grand scheme of things. The flintlock pistol in Predator 2 wasn't pivotal to the plot, but it was welcome when a later instalment - Prey - explained where it came from.
We've looked at this subject before, and now here's ten more horror movie answers that fans had to wait for.
10. Norma's Life Before The Events Of Psycho - Psycho IV: The Beginning
At the end of Alfred Hitchcock's subversive slasher, deranged motel owner Norman Bates insists he "wouldn't hurt a fly". Unfortunately, the events leading up to this point say otherwise.
Norman snapped after murdering his abusive mother, Norma, causing him to develop a split personality based on her. Every time he was attracted to a woman, Norman would kill her as his Mother personality.
Despite playing a pivotal role in the Psycho franchise, little is revealed in the original about Norman's dear old mum. Also, Psycho II put a spanner in the works when a waitress called Emma Spool claimed to be Norman's real mother and Norma was his aunt.
Luckily, prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning set the record straight, retconning the events of Psycho II and reconfirming Norma is Norman's mother. Norma conditioned Norman from an early age that all women were sexual deviants, save for her. Any time Norman was aroused, Norma ordered him to dress as a woman, hoping to combat his manly urges.
Believing he was the only one deserving of Norma's affection, Norman was consumed by jealousy when his mother announced she was engaged to another man. In a rage, he poisoned the pair's iced tea and staged it like a murder-suicide pact.
Even though pieces of Norman's past had been eluded to, this was the first time we saw the events that shaped him into the murderer he became.