I don't understand the low ratings for this little gem of a movie. So what if it ignores the psycho sequels and changes up a few things from the original psycho. It's still a great movie. Good acting and a nice little ghost story mystery thrown in. I especially loved Bud Cort as Alex. I am a huge fan of the original Psycho and it's sequels and I think this is a great addition for any psycho fan or even someone who has never seen psycho. It was great revisiting the Bates Motel all covered in cobwebs and neglected. Gave it a nice creepy feeling. I just upgraded to a better copy of this from ioffer (they are also selling it on amazon) and it's a fairly good picture quality. Don't let the bad reviews keep you from giving this movie a try.

Hmmm...what would Norman Bates say about 'Bates Motel?' Perhaps, "We all go a little mad sometimes." Except I really don't think it was all that crazy to give the TV audience a taste of Psycho. I have to admit, I've been fascinated with the character since the first time I saw Psycho in the '80s and I loved the crazy sequels that followed. I also liked Jason Bateman as an actor (still do). However, I think this show was somewhat doomed from the start. I think it's hilarious that 25+ years later, I am hooked on the 'Bates Motel' TV series, which is better because I think a prequel is a better way to go. You know what they say about hindsight though. In any event, I'd like to see this again as I only saw this version in 1987. I think in light of the fact that the new show on A&E has done so well, why not show it for giggles? I'm sure Anthony Perkins won't mind...now.

I was on this site and appalled to see the nasty comments about the movie. It was a rather good "closing chapter" to the Bates legacy. Anthony Perkins and his "mother" would be proud of it. So all of you people out there need to take a shower. a cold one and get over the fact that you as movie consumers are inferior to a normal person. I mean come on now i was 4 when i first watched it and even then i was smart enough to aknowledge "a great movie" when i saw one. For TV it was a edge of your seat thriller. You guys must be mad when u type awful comments like that. But as norman would say "we all go a little mad sometimes".Josh Atterbury

I remember i looked for this "hidden gem" for almost two years. I was very excited when i sat down to watch it. It was a bit different then i thought, but nor bad at all. Rather good actually, but it's so Unneccesary. The film has some good acting though and especially from Bud Cort. He has a brilliant way of acting in this pilot. Very strange and mystical and also kind of nervous. (Perhaps it is a little Norman in him to).Overall a recomended film for the "Psycho - fanatics", but not a movie you HAVE TO SEE.8/10