Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho shook audiences to the core when released in 1960. It documents a strange, Oedipal tragedy that laid the groundwork for the twisted mother/son relationship trope often seen in TV and film. Over 50 years later, A&E’s prequel series Bates Motel sought to fill in the blanks from murderer Norman Bates’ teenage years to the events of Psycho. While one could argue Bates Motel, which is more of a thrilling drama, isn’t as scary as its predecessor, it’s certainly more disturbing. Bates Motel masters the age-old adage: show, don’t tell. Instead of narrating Norman and his mother’s bizarre relationship, audiences watch it unfold firsthand.
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As a prequel, the series features the infamous Norma Bates, Norman’s mother, while she is still alive. It picks up with her purchasing the motel and moving to Oregon. Throughout the series, Norman and Norma navigate various obstacles, from running their new business to murder. Bates Motel also introduces Dylan, a character non-existent in the novel, which adds an extra layer of drama as Norma’s estranged son.
At the heart of the series is Norman and Norma’s toxic relationship. Their intense love for each other is the primary motivator behind (most) of their actions and is ultimately their undoing. It’s also their relationship that elevates the story’s disturbing nature far above its predecessor. Right from the get-go, those who’ve seen Psycho know how their story ends: Norman kills his mother. However, what is essentially an inherent spoiler makes for good television as audiences watch Norman’s descent into madness, wondering when Norma will meet her untimely end.
In the meantime, their relationship induces a fair amount of cringing. Norma might not be a serial killer like her son, but she isn’t innocent. Her misplaced emotional needs make their relationship resemble much more of a marriage than a mother/son. At one point, Norma suggests that it’s no right for her and Norman to sleep in the same bed. However, she quickly changes her mind when she needs comfort and asks him to hold her. The flip-flopping is confusing for Norman, who wants nothing more than to please his mother.
While Norma is much less cruel than as portrayed in Psycho, her inappropriate relationship with her son results in jealousy on both ends. In Norman’s case, his envy is personified as Mother — an alternate personality that resembles a much more sinister version of Norma. When Norman’s around a pretty girl and Mother shows up, the audience knows things likely will not end well. And while Norma clearly knows something is wrong with her son, she enables him, leaving viewers screaming, “Don’t do that!”
By Psycho‘s conclusion, Norman is almost a sympathetic character. While he commits unspeakable crimes, he is also a victim in his own right — emotionally abused by his mother. Likewise, Bates Motel‘s creators also do a fantastic job of instilling humanity in Norma and Norman. Audiences watch Norman grapple with Mother while being tormented by his own perhaps sexual feelings for Norma. The result is effective. Each time Norman/Mother takes a life, it’s chilling. While Psycho features Norma and Mother bickering, it doesn’t fully capture his emotional turmoil. Not to mention the film intentionally keeps the fact that Norman is Mother a secret until the big reveal.
However, what really makes viewers squirm is the incestual vibe in Bates Motel‘s incarnations. While Norma and Norman never graduate beyond a little-too-long kiss, Norman’s creepy leers and jealous outbursts are equally as disturbing. Although Norma appears seemingly innocent — aside from partially undressing in front of him and cuddling in bed — a few moments clue audiences in that she’s somewhat aware of Norman’s inappropriate feelings for her. For instance, in the Season 2 finale, Norma dissuades Norman from committing suicide by passionately kissing him on the lips. While this created quite the conversation among Bates Motel fans, it seems Norma, in a moment of desperation, knew she could appeal to him in a sexual nature — and she was right.
Considering the taboo storyline, Bates Motel seeks to make audiences uncomfortable and succeeds with flying colors. Norman and Norma’s borderline incestual relationship is on full display, whereas in Psycho, it’s only implied in hushed whispers among neighbors. While Psycho goes for the big twist viewers didn’t see coming, Bates Motel is all about the shock. Knowing Norman and Norma’s fate only makes the gruesome downward spiral across Bates Motel‘s five seasons all the more terrifying.
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