Wednesday 18 September 2013

Bates Motel: Psycho 90210

After the success of Hannibal, Norman Bates is the next iconic serial killer to get  a TV refit, re imagining (add your own re here) with Bates Motel. 

Set in the present day, no doubt budgetary concerns stopped it being set in the late 40's early 50's, we meet Norman (Freddie Highmore) and mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) as they discover Mr. Bates dead of an apparent accident, but seeing we know the family history I get the feeling that might be called into question later in the season. 

Well to get away mad mother and son buy, yep you guessed it, a run down motel. And here's where the show really started to kick in, just one look at that iconic house and all the visions of Hitchcock's Psycho come flooding back. And everything is beautifully recreated just how we know and love it.

 Norman soon falls in with the local college kids, ending up at a party which seems to be held by someone who looks like a renegade from Twilight. So the show takes on a kind of Psycho 90210 vibe. 

But that is not to say Bates Motel is not dark and gory, there was a very disturbing scene and some neat, tension filled twists. 

All in all it was a strong opening episode; the ever reliable Vera Farmiga was good as Norma and Freddie Highmore looked and sounded  convincing as the young Norman. 

But you have to wonder which horror icon is next for a TV make-over, will we be getting Freddy Krueger- The Janitor Years? Come to think of it I'd watch that.

The Owner.

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