Psycho III (1986) filming locations

Universal City, United States

Plateau located at the southern end of Falls Lake, on the Universal backlot, which was home to the set of the Psycho House from 1982 in the mid-1980s — between its original location on Laramie Street Hill and its current position near Old Falls Lake.

The scene : The house and the motel dominate the entire film, shot in the summer of 1985 on the set south of Falls Lake where the decor had been rebuilt for Psycho II.

Universal City, United States

Part of the Park Lake water feature, located on the Universal backlot, separated from the main pool by the Sweet Charity Bridge added in 1969. Excavated in the early 1950s, the lake hosted Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1954, followed by a recreation of the Mississippi River with a paddleboat and wave machine, before the installation of the "Red Sea" effect in 1973. The whole was reduced in 2017.

The scene : The water pond in the backlot is used again in the film, three years after Psycho II.

Universal City, United States

Sound stage of the front lot of Universal Studios, in Universal City, built in 1928 and bearing building number 468. It measures 199 feet long by 146 feet wide and 49 feet high, covering approximately 29,000 square feet on the ground, with water tanks installed beneath its concrete floor. Once nicknamed the "Back to the Future stage", it is still in operation: only the production offices surrounding it were demolished in 2020.

The scene : Interiors of the film were shot there — it is the only numbered set that the studiotour explicitly associates with Psycho III.

Sierra Madre, United States

Pedestrian area of Sierra Madre, which already served as the setting for the town of Santa Mira in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).

The scene : Duke crosses this square on his way to the bar — Jeff Fahey is filmed cutting across the street.

Sierra Madre, United States

Building on North Baldwin Avenue, in Sierra Madre, demolished in 2020.

The scene : The bar frequented by Duke, called "Fairvale Bar" in the film; the town of Fairvale itself exists only in the narrative.

North Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States

The scene : Mrs. Spool's apartment, whose visit precipitates the resolution.

Palmdale, United States

The scene : Maureen is hitchhiking by the side of this desert road in the opening sequence.

Palmdale, United States

The scene : Second stop of Maureen on the road, a little further in the Antelope Valley desert.