Is Norman Bates The Best Horror Movie Character of All Time?

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Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Psycho

So, who is your favorite character from a horror movie of all time? 

Plenty to choose from of course, and if you ask a 1000 people, you will get at least 950 different answers. (Not an exact figure, of course)

My answer every single time however, is Norman Bates from Psycho, one of the most compelling characters in horror film history. 

First brought to life by Robert Bloch in his 1959 novel and more famously portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the Psycho franchise, including the criminally under appreciated Psycho 2, Bates had a complex personality and a very troubled relationship with his mother shall we say, and had to battle many internal conflicts within himself.

Norman Bates has a split personality and inner conflicts

Norman Bates Has Many Layers

On the surface, Norman Bates appears to be quite a friendly and well-mannered young man, someone to take home to meet your mama and papa with pride, and he has a good job running the Bates Motel where he greets his guests with a lovely warm smile.

His demeanor is calm and polite, which makes him seem like an ordinary person who is simply managing a small business. But as we all know, that is far from the reality of it all

His outward appearance is carefully maintained so he can mask the deeper issues that trouble him, and his polite and unassuming behavior is a façade designed to hide the turmoil and mental struggles that lie beneath. 

Norma Bates in Psycho

Lets talk about his relationship with his mother, Norma Bates, can we say mommy issues?

Although Norma is deceased by the time the events of Psycho unfold, her influence on Norman remains powerful. Norma was known for her domineering and harsh nature, and even after her death, she still has control over him.

Norman has an obsession with his mother that leads him to create a vivid and quite disturbing illusion of her presence, as he keeps her body preserved in their home and regularly dresses up as her. 

By adopting her appearance and voice, he is trying to keep her memory alive, but his attachment to his mom is so intense that it manifests into a split personality.

Norman Bates had serious mother issues


The first identity within Normal Bates is the Norman persona itself, a polite and shy man who is helpful and genuinely concerned about his guests and the operation of his motel. 

Just a normal guy, really..

But the second identity is the Mother persona, and this persona is aggressive, menacing, and incredibly unhinged.  When Norman adopts his Mother personality, he is erratic and displays violent behavior, including murder. 

The internal conflict is real, with the Norman side being troubled, guilt-ridden, and struggling to cope with his actions. 

The Mother persona however is dominant and ruthless, driving him to commit some horrific acts, and in some ways, you cannot help at times to sympathize with it all.

You can actually feel a bit sorry for Norman Bates!

Norman's split personality and his relationship with his mother are central to his identity, and the complexity of his character lies in his ability to present a charming and helpful exterior while also concealing a deeply disturbed and dangerous inner self. 

For me he will always stands out as the pinnacle of horror movie characters because he just  embodies the perfect blend of psychological complexity, unsettling charm, and chilling unpredictability.

What are your thoughts? Join me on Twitter , Instagram or Facebook or let me know in the comments.

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