10 Horror Movie Twists That Pissed Everyone Off
1. Norman's Real Mommy Issues - Psycho 2
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is one of the most influential movies of all time, with the story of Norman Bates and "Mother" one that led to one of the greatest films in the history of cinema.
So, how do you follow that tale up? Well, if you're Psycho 2, you deliver the big twist that Norma Bates wasn't actually Norman's mother. Instead, it was Norma's sister Emma who was the real mother of Norman, with Norma having took the boy in as her own when Emma was locked up in a mental asylum.
Taken on its own, this twist was so frustrating. Making it all the more frustrating, though, is that Psycho 2 had done a fantastic job up until that point. Showing Anthony Perkins' Norman readjusting to society after spending 22 years institutionalised, you can't help but feel for the character as he desperately tries to keep on the straight and narrow as others try to push his buttons.
For those feeling a Psycho sequel was never needed, the bulk of this follow-up shows how wrong that notion was. Unfortunately, the groan-inducing final act reveal undermines all of the great work previously done by the film. No wonder Norman decided to kill Emma shortly after she explains his true parentage to him.
It's also no surprise that Psycho III undid this ridiculous idea and again cemented Norma Bates as Norman's real ma.