Bates Motel Critique

Find the review used for this assignment here.

So, “Bates Motel” is a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s original horror film “Psycho” but it takes place in 2013? Huh?

In this new A&E hit television series, the characters and environment are consistent with the film but are combined with a unique, modern twist.

Norman Bates, a quiet, geeky teenager and Norma, his exceptionally attractive and depraved overbearing mother move to the same creepy motel featured in “Psycho”. Norma dresses like a 1950s housewife, the motel is “renovated” by what looks like a ninety-year-old grandmother, the iconic Bates Motel neon sign resembles a 1960 artifact that you would only find in an antique shop BUT, despite the countless retro characteristics, the show is set in contemporary society filled with Iphone carrying teenagers.

The reasons behind the creation of “Bates Motel” are pretty obvious. In an immense sea of failed Hollywood horror films and television shows, originality is rare. Some viewers might perceive it as a Hitchcock rip-off, while others consider it a masterpiece. Either way, there is no doubting the show’s success.

The impeccable acting performed by Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates) as the incestuous, attention-seeking, emotionally abusive mother helps make this show even better. One scene you find her undressing near an open window as Norman watches and later in the season she dresses down to lacy lingerie in the same room as poor Norman—denying the clear inappropriateness implied by her gestures. Gross.

Aside from Farmiga, shortly after she and Norman moved into their new motel, you are introduced to Dylan, Norma’s older, “black sheep” of a son. And ironically, Dylan becomes the only normal, functional person in the series.

While awkwardly awaiting his first day at school in a run-down bus stop outside his motel, Norman's strange tendencies somehow attract a clique of the schools most popular girls. This is when you meet Bradley. Bradley Martin is clearly the cliques ringleader and although she is pretty insignificant in the first few episodes, her role quickly escalates in the series when she becomes Norman's first crush.

The introduction of Bradley and her posse is when you first encounter Norma’s smothering tendencies. While most mothers would be thrilled to see her emotionally and socially challenged son make new friends, she prohibits Norman from seeing them. After all, who needs friends when you have the perfect mom?

Long story short, Norman sneaks out anyways and returns home to his physically injured mother and a dead man, and this is where the story of Norman Bates really kicks off.

The remainder of the season is a whirlpool of cover-ups and lies with a few extra characters thrown in to mix it up. You will meet two cops, one seemingly good (Deputy Zach Shelby) and one seemingly bad  (Sheriff Alex Ramiro). But keep one thing in mind; no character will leave you unsurprised and nobody is who he or she seems to be in this small town.

“Bates Motel” is certainly no “Psycho”, but that might just be the point.

(Word Count: 497)