Staying at the Bates: Welcome Back to the ‘Psycho’ Franchise

March 11, 2013

By Dave Odegard

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Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga in ‘Bates Motel’/Photo © A&E Television Networks

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In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock released arguably his most famous film, “Psycho.” The movie became so iconic and such a huge part of film history; even those few viewers who haven’t seen it are aware of the “shocking” twist ending wherein (Spoilers!) Norman Bates dresses up as his dead mother and kills people. But something even a lot of Hitchcock aficionados aren’t aware of is that “Psycho” has grown (or should we say mutated?) into probably the longest-running horror franchise of all time, creeping across multiple media along the way.

The story of Norman and “Mother!” has seen a litany of low-budget sequels with original star Anthony Perkins, two more novels by the original book’s author, a failed TV pilot, a remake of the original film, a film about Hitchcock making “Psycho,” and later this month A&E will premiere its new TV series “Bates Motel,” which is being billed as a modern reimaging of the relationship between the Bates matriarch and her son … before he became a serial killer.

If there’s one person who could be considered an expert on the sprawling “Psycho” film empire and its offshoots, it’s Jason Allentoff, webmaster for ThePsychoMovies.com, the only real resource of information on the various editions and iterations.

“I first discovered the ‘Psycho’ films when I was eleven years old,” recalls Allentoff. Ironically, he admits his own mother was against him watching the most famous movie killer with maternal issues, but despite her reservations, Allentoff got to see the Hitchcock classic and all of its sequels. “From ‘Psycho’ to ‘Psycho IV’ I was totally hooked,” he explains.

Allentoff has been proselytizing the full “Psycho” series ever since. He recommended the sequels to customers while working at a local video rental shop and launched the first version of his website when he was still in high school. “The goal of the site has always been a place for fans to talk about the series, get information, and be a resource if someone was in need of ‘Psycho’-related research/information,” says Allentoff.

For the most part, Universal Studios hasn’t been too keen on promoting the many add-ons of its “Psycho” brand, which would explain why most people are unaware of them. Allentoff cites the studio’s disinterest in releasing the films on Blu-ray, lack of care for the infamous house and motel sets, and non-cooperation with 2010 film documentary “The Psycho Legacy.”

So back to the plot: What happens after the events of “Psycho”? That actually depends on which follow-up editions you’re watching. In the direct film sequels starring Anthony Perkins, Norman is released, supposedly cured after twenty-two years in a mental institution. He returns to the small California town that’s home to the Bates Motel where someone, though not him, is committing murders (“Psycho II”). Eventually Norman does start killing again and is caught and re-institutionalized (“Psycho III”). He’s released AGAIN and marries a woman who works at the mental institution, but when she tells him she’s pregnant he has a mental breakdown that causes him to flash back to growing up with his mother and attempt to kill his wife (“Psycho IV: The Beginning”).

“Psycho fans pretty much enjoyed each of the films in the series,” says Allentoff, “except for the [Gus Van Sant] remake. I have yet to meet anyone who does [enjoy the remake]. I would say the first two are tops on many lists.”

As for the books, original Psycho author Robert Bloch published his own Psycho II a year before the film of the same name – though they’re unrelated. In print, Norman Bates is fatter, older, and likes booze and porn. In Bloch’s sequel, which is a sendup of slasher movies, Norman dresses up as a nun to escape the mental institution and heads to Hollywood. A third novel, Psycho House, depicts the infamous house and hotel as a macabre tourist trap, where people begin dying under mysterious circumstances.

On the TV front, a show attempting to capitalize on the “Psycho” trademark is nothing new. “Bates Motel” staring Bud Cort as a former mental patient bequeathed the motel by Norman was a TV movie that aired July 4 weekend in 1987 and was intended to be a pilot for a “Twilight Zone”-like anthology series, but the ratings were so bad NBC pulled the plug. “There are very few redeeming qualities,” Allentoff says of the failed pilot. “There were also several continuity errors and it was an atrocity that they added a restaurant on the grounds of the Motel. I am still trying to figure out why they bothered.”

The new “Bates Motel” on A&E has no connection to the failed ‘80s TV show. Produced by Carlton Cruse of “Lost” and Kerry Ehrin of “Friday Night Lights,” the series will have a contemporary setting and is being described as a mix between “Twin Peaks” and “Smallville.”

“While I am very excited to see what they do with it, I am a little perplexed at some of the decisions made by the producers,” explains Allentoff. “I just don’t understand why they didn’t do a true prequel set in the 1950s.” According to Allentoff, it’s an issue that seems to have split the “Psycho” fan community. “I do know from talking to fans through my site’s Facebook page that there are some who are very against it,” he says. “There are others who can’t wait.” Allentoff is reluctant to fully give his personal opinion just yet. “I can’t really pass judgment on this till I see the pilot.”

So why are we so obsessed with the story of Norman Bates and his mother? For Allentoff, the answer is the same reason so many film critics cite “Psycho” as being such a brilliant film – despite knowing better, we feel sympathy for him. “I think the reason Norman Bates has had such longevity is the fact that he’s a sympathetic character,” Allentoff explains. “Yes, he’s a killer. But you actually feel sorry for him. You understand his struggle, his battle – what makes him tick.”

Tags: Alfred Hitchcock, Bates Motel, Psycho