Oh Mother, What Have You Done? book by Tom Holland digs into the making of Psycho II

Tom Holland (not the one who plays Spider-Man) was best known as an actor when he was hired to write the screenplay for a project that sounded like an insane idea: a 23-years-later sequel to the Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho. But somehow, Holland and director Richard Franklin managed to deliver a Psycho II (watch it HERE) that is a worthy follow-up to the original. Now, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film, Holland has published – through Holland House Entertainment – a 176 page book called Oh Mother, What Have You Done?, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Psycho II.

Authored by Tom Holland and containing unpublished memoirs by late Psycho II director Richard Franklin and conversations with the film’s editor Andrew London, Oh Mother, What Have You Done? offers fans a unique
glimpse into the continuation of the beloved Psycho film franchise, which created nightmares for millions of
people showering worldwide. Created using never-before-seen production materials and photos – many from Holland’s own personal archive – Oh Mother, What Have You Done? abounds with rare hand-written development and production notes, early budgets, personal Polaroids and more, all set against fascinating conversations with the film’s writer, director and editor which document the development, filming, and reception of the much-celebrated Psycho II.

The book also contains an afterword by Bates Motel producer Anthony Cipriano.

Psycho II has the following synopsis: Two decades after the original murders at the Bates Motel, Norman Bates completes his treatment at a mental institution and returns home to find his hotel run down under the management of Warren Toomey. Despite a new friendship with a waitress and a job busing tables at a diner, Norman begins to hear voices once again. No matter how hard he tries, Norman cannot keep “Mother” from returning and coaxing him to unleash the homicidal maniac within.

Anthony Perkins reprises the role of Norman Bates and is joined in the cast by Vera Miles, Robert Loggia, Meg Tilly, Dennis Franz, Hugh Gillin, Robert Alan Browne, Claudia Bryar, Ben Hartigan, Lee Garlington, Jill Caroll, Tim Maier, and Osgood Perkins.

Holland had this to say about Oh Mother, What Have You Done?: “I wrote Psycho II, the first sequel that began the Psycho legacy, forty years ago this past summer, and the film was a huge success in the year 1983, but who remembers? To my surprise, apparently, they do, because on the film’s fortieth anniversary love from fans began to pour in, much to my amazement and pleasure. And then (Psycho II director) Richard Franklin’s unpublished memoirs arrived unexpectedly. I’d had no idea he’d written them before he passed in 2007. Reading them was like being transported back in time, and I had to share them, along with my memories and personal archives with the fans of Psycho, the sequels, and the excellent Bates Motel. I hope they enjoy reading the book as much as I did putting it together. My thanks to Andrew London, who edited, and to Mr. Hitchcock, without whom none of this would have existed. So, step back with me forty years and let’s see how it happened.”

Oh Mother, What Have You Done? is available now in both hardback and paperback through Amazon. If you’d like to get an autographed copy from Tom Holland, those are available at Terror Time.

Are you a fan of Psycho II, and will you be reading Oh Mother, What Have You Done? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Since writing Psycho II, Tom Holland has gone on to write and direct Fright Night, Child’s Play, The Langoliers, and Thinner, among other projects.