MovieChat Forums > Psycho II (1983) Discussion > Vera Miles' performance

Vera Miles' performance

posted 12 years ago by Jo-No
13 replies | jump to latest

I really like this film, and geniunely believe it is not only one of the best film sequels ever but utterly worthy of being taken seriously as a good film in its own right. But I think a lot of the films success relies on Vera Miles as Lila Loomis. Without her in this film I just can't imagine it being nearly as enjoyable, even with Anthony Perkins reprising his role, in the say way I think Janet Leigh adds so much to the orginal Psycho. Vera seems to be ignored in a lot of reviews pf Psycho II, and also these IMDB posts, but to me its her that makes this film "gel". Maybe it's the fact we get to see what became of Lila Crane, maybe it's her great performance, or her class and seriousness towards the role, or maybe it's that she adds a whole other dimension to the character,or even that its just great to see a character from the original apart from Perkins. I don't know, but I just wish she were more recognised for this film. I think she's so much better here than she was even in the original.

[–] Keith7824 12 years ago

She definitely brings this film to another level. Her performance as the concerned, loving sister the audience saw in the original film is pretty much gone by this point. What we see now is a vengeful, nasty, bitter woman whose only goal is to drive Norman insane again, run on hatred. Not only does she yell, scream and belittle, but she is also a tad violent as well. It's definitely one of those movie characters where her personality and role were expanded upon, albeit negatively, with great results. I do agree that her performance doesn't seem to get enough praise.

[–] kurt7825 11 years ago

i'm glad she was in this movie. she's great

[–] cjh8504 11 years ago

Nice connection to the first too, with her as well as Perkins.

RIP Jean Stapleton. Heaven just got a Dingbat.

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 11 years ago

Vera Miles was always very good at playing both very likeable, pleasant characters and also every strong-willed individuals who are capable of anything.

It still always shocks me when her character in The Searchers reveals that her own prejudice is as strong, perhaps even stronger than John Wayne's Ethan towards the idea of the kidnapped Debbie being worth rescuing or considered "white" anymore, preferring to have her killed. Shocking as it is, she's convincing none-the-less.

@Twitzkrieg - Glasgow's FOREMOST authority

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

what you said about her role in this film goes for Miles in general, who was underrated

[–] rascal67 11 years ago

I think she's so much better here than she was even in the original.
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She had a more substantial role in this excellent sequel. I probably tend to dismiss her performance, due to other excellent performances in the film. It may be due to the personality and attitude of her character and what she represented, that I didn't really like her. This in itself, tells me all I need to know about what a great job she did at bringing her older and bitter Lila Loomis character to life and her acting skill and presence she brought to the film.

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

I'm in the minority and did not like this film--especially the killing of Miles; it was gratuitous and her death just didn't feel right.

[–] rascal67 11 years ago

I'm in the minority and did not like this film--especially the killing of Miles; it was gratuitous and her death just didn't feel right.
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You are right in saying that her death was gratuitous. However, I see it as cheaply symbolic that she got it in the gob, as she came over as a manipulating, bullying and self important character. She was making threats most of the time.

When I first viewed the film on it's initial release, her sudden death came as a surprise to me, as she was about to dress up as mother and my mind was thinking that she may be the killer. Also, being the horror ghoul that I am, I rate Miles' death in this film very highly on a best death scene scale......as childish as it sounds ;-)

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

I didn't know if her murder was for the sake of having a murder,or meaningful(like you said). Or if they trying another Janet-Leigh;star, dies 1/2 thru the film thing

[–] rascal67 11 years ago

I would say that it may have been a bit of both. To up the body count and deliver the goods for a big budget Hollywood film that came out near the end of the early 80's popular slasher era and also her death was used as plot manipulation devise.

I don't really see it as a Janet Leigh thing though, as Miles wasn't the leading lady. Tilly was and if they had bumped her off unexpectedly, then maybe that would have be seen as too obvious.

[–] flapjackashley 11 years ago

Or if they trying another Janet-Leigh,star, dies 1/2 thru the film thing

Vera Miles wasn't the leading lady in this film. In fact, there's a long stretch of movie that she doesn't appear in or is even mentioned in.

The commentary on the Blu-ray says that her graphic murder was a sign of the times in horror (competing with the Friday the 13ths and such), but I always saw it a shocking moment on a couple levels. Marion Crane's shower death was considered so shocking and gratuitous in the original at the time of its release, and Psycho II may have felt the need to have one of its own. And secondly, how interesting that the most memorable and unexpected at the time death of the sequel came at the expense of the sister who had the same memorable, unexpected at the time death in the first film.

[–] riverwalk 9 years ago

The reason why Miles is overlooked in this movie is that her career was over in Hollywood really by 1983. Perkins got all the cred.

[–] rascal67 9 years ago

Well Miles, while memorable in the film, didn't really have that big of a role. She only had about 4 scenes at the most. It is understandable that Perkin's got the accolades and the film was moderately successful.

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