Rent Bates Motel: Series 1 (2013)

Enjoyable Mash-up of Psycho set in the Present Day - Bates Motel: Series 1 review by PV

This 2013 series passed me by so I am working my way through them now. I do expect later series to 'jump the shark'.

It all reminds me a tad of the TV series DEXTER for some reason.

All a bit silly at times, almost a fantasy movie, and tbh the characters do not seem weird enough - esp Norma Bates. But also Norman. The original movie has not equal in that - though the over-rated Hitchcock did not actually create the shower scene (storyboarded by an underling).

Freddie Highmore looks younger than the 21 years he is, which helps and reminds me of Nicholas Hoult. As a child actor for a well-off family of actors and mum was Daniel Radcliffe's agent, he had all the advantages BUT it's still hard for a child star to make the transition to adult acting. He does here with aplomb.

Best not to think to hard when watching this - let it wash over you. I particularly liked the way it all started.

4 stars

Good but not amazing - Bates Motel: Series 1 review by JR

Deciding to make a series around the early years of a psycho means they really have to try hard to make you like the main protagonist, and when you see him change into the psycho you are supposed to have conflicted feelings about him. Unfortunately they didn't quite manage this for me in Bates Hotel. I never really liked Norman or his mother Norma, even though they were very well acted.

From the very start, Norman always comes across as a slightly strange, bookish, kid with a manipulating mother and although this relationship is fleshed out later, I never warmed to either character. For some unknown reason Norman seems to be freakishly interesting/desirable to a number of attractive woman which wasn't at all realistic.

My favourite character and storyline turned out to be his older brother Dylan, who gets mixed up in the local towns shady dealings. For me this is the story that kept me watching, and I'd be happy for Norman's story to be a sub plot rather than the main focus.