Norman Bates

Norman Bates the second greatest villain in American Cinema

Norman Bates is a film and fictional character. Norman Bates was created by Robert Bloch as the antagonist - villain character of Psycho’s story - line. Robert Bloch a Hugo Award winner, a Bram Stroker Award winner and finally winner of the World Fantasy Award, has written the Psycho novel. The villain character of Psycho book was inspired by the real crime case of Edward Theodore Gein, a  murderer and body snatcher known also with the nickname “The Plainfield Ghoul” and “The Mad Butcher”.

The Psycho storyline has an unforgettable twist end. It’s an interesting story that can be filmed in a low - budget. Alfred Hitchcock shown an interesting about the film rights of the book.

Alfred Hitchcock finance the production of Psycho and he created one masterpiece of Cinema and the fictional character of Norman Bates from the pages of a horror book entered into the audience memory as an unforgettable villain.

Norman Bates as a fictional character (Robert Bloch's books)

Norman Bates during his childhood suffered by emotional abuse at the hands of his mother. Norman Bates and his mother “Norma Bates” , after Norman’s father death, live together in their isolated Gothic style house in the countryside beside their own - Bates Motel. Norman's mother used to preacher Norman, during his teenager years, that sexual intercourse is sinful and that all women (except herself) are filthy and whores.

When Norman Bates came to the age, his mother started a love affair with another man, Joe Considine. Norman Bates driven jealously poisons both of them.

After the crime, Norman Bates, feels guilty and a dissociate identity disorder appears (multi personalities syndrome). He preserves his mother corpse and he assumes that his mother is alive. Norman Bates believes that by preserving his mother corpse can escape the guilt of his deadly crime - the murder of his mother. After his mother death Norman is the owner of the house and Bates Motel.                          

According to Psycho novel, Norman Bates killed a young woman Marry Crane (in the film Afred Hitchock - changed the name to Marrion Crane) and a private detective who was looking for her. I need to mention, that Norman Bates killed both of them dressed as his mother. After his arrest by police, Norman Bate is sent in a mental institution where the personality of his mother “Norma Bates” completely Norman’s mind, thinking and life.

Robert Bloch in his book Psycho II, started a new fictional story line by offering the chance to Norman Bates to escape from the mental institution by murdering a nun. Norman Bates runs away from mental institution he hitchhikes, a car - driver picks him and during the drive Norman Bates attacks the driver. The car driver tries to avoid Norman’s attack and during his effort he causes a deadly car accident. The corpse of Norman Bates is found and doctors assume that it’s the corpse of Norman Bates.

Norman Bates the Cinema character (Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho)

Alfred Hitchcock is responsible for the international recognition of Norman Bates as a Cinema and Fictional character. As I have already mention on horror 2112 blog on my relative article “Psycho - creating a masterpiece” in Psycho novel Norman Bates  is an unsympathetic character. The scriptwriter of film Psycho - Joseph Stefano transformed the character of Norman Bates. Joseph Stefano wanted Norman Bates to be more interesting and more sympathetic to audience. The film character of Norman Bates does not drinking alcohol and  he has not have any interest in spiritualism, occult and pornography.

Briefly, I can say that in the sequel film, Psycho II, Norman Bates is back to his house and to his Bates Motel, after 22 - years in a mental institution. The sister of his victim, Lila Loomis (Vera Miller) and hers daughter try to sent him back to mental hospital. In Bates Motel, strange event take place, mysterious phone calls, mysterious hand notes and finally unexplained and mysterious murders. In Psycho II we have a twist end when a revelation takes place and  the real murder is not Norman Bates but his aunt. Norman killes her aunt and embalmed her dead body  too - the Bates Mother once again conquered the Norman Bates life.

To be continued ….

Elias Stoikos