Bates Motel Review

Reviews on Bates Motel

1)    Formn’ Norman by Linda Stasi (Link: http://nypost.com/2013/03/18/formin-norman/)

This review focuses on the originating aspects of the television show. For those that haven’t watched Bates Motel, it is a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s famous horror film Psycho. However, the interesting twist to the television series is that although there are similar cultural details of the film that coincide with the original Psycho, the TV series is modernized and takes place in 2013. “Mother dresses like Janet Leigh circa 1960, the motel is 1950s, the neon sign is so retro its type hasn’t been seen since the Nixon administration. And yet— and yet—the year the show is set in is 2013.” This review also notes how in modern Hollywood, originality is hard to come by yet the show is doing an excellent job incorporating its own unique style and storyline to Alfred Hitchcock’s original film. Overall this review was written informally and focused primarily on its connections and newly added additions to the film.

2)    Bates Motel: TV Review by Tim Goodman (Link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bates-motel-tv-review-426223)

This review is similar to last one but it focuses more on the fact that although it is a somewhat-prequel to the movie Psycho, the creators of the TV series are calling it a contemporary-prequel. In other words, the underlying factors and themes such as; Norman Bates being a killer and manifesting an inappropriate relationship with his overbearing mother are constant in the show, however the creators believe it is giving them an opportunity to do something completely different with the characters. “Viewers shouldn’t get hung up about knowing how it all will end, nor should they rely on what they know from the movie to inform how they look at these characters. Part of that is because we might never see how it all ends, anyway. And part of that is because the premise itself holds extraordinary storytelling possibilities.” Overall, this review is complimenting the original aspects of the TV series while simultaneously giving credit the shows inspiration—Psycho. It focuses mainly on character relationships but also points out aspects of the show that are creative and original.

3)    “'Bates Motel' maintains its sharp edge as second season begins” by Mark Dawidziack (Link: http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2014/02/bates_motel_maintains_its_sharp_edge_as_second_season_begins.html#incart_river)

Similar to the previous reviews, this one focuses on the interesting twist the series took from the movie Psycho. It is quick to defend Bates Motel for anyone who might find this show to just be a rip-off from the original horror film Psycho. However, this review notes that there has been a couple other attempts in Hollywood to recreate the original version and it was never truly successful. This TV series is doing something truly original by creating fictional storylines in Norman Bates teenage years. It helps you truly understand the character as something much more than a deranged serial killer like he was portrayed in the film. This review ultimately focuses on how the TV show skillfully allowed viewers to “live” through the making of a serial killer and how his mother played a similar, if not equal role in creating it.