Obviously a rip-off of 'Psycho', William Castle even repeats specific images from Hitchcock's earlier classic. It manages however be even weirder and may be the originator itself of the childhood prologue soon became a cliche in it's own right in the films of Robert Aldrich and John Carpenter.
The mysterious Jean Arless (who gets an 'introducing' credit) cuts a very dramatic figure playing a glacial blonde who's Mrs Bates, her son Norman, Marion Crane and Marnie all rolled into one (although - SPOILER COMING: - her impersonation as her husband is rather obvious since her centre of gravity is obviously that of a girl. And probably wouldn't work today when it's no longer possible to pass yourself off as a bloke just by wearing a suit and tie).
The mysterious Jean Arless (who gets an 'introducing' credit) cuts a very dramatic figure playing a glacial blonde who's Mrs Bates, her son Norman, Marion Crane and Marnie all rolled into one (although - SPOILER COMING: - her impersonation as her husband is rather obvious since her centre of gravity is obviously that of a girl. And probably wouldn't work today when it's no longer possible to pass yourself off as a bloke just by wearing a suit and tie).