Psycho (1960)

The critic hails Psycho as a timeless classic and Hitchcock's blackest, most cynical and manipulative film, which introduced the American Nightmare to the horror genre. They single out the legendary shower sequence for its masterful montage and Bernard Herrmann's score.

Ebert highlights Hitchcock's skill in setting up audience expectations with the Marion story and the Norman-Marion relationship before subverting them, and singles out the shower scene's artistry along with Anthony Perkins' performance.

The critic praises Hitchcock's artistry, technical mastery, and skill in crafting a first-rate mystery thriller full of visual shocks and surprises, justified by its macabre ending and strong performances, especially Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates.

The critic sees Psycho as a bleak, tragic work of pure cinema whose power lies beyond mere scares, in its exploration of voyeurism, imprisonment, and psychosis, with standout praise for Anthony Perkins' nuanced performance and the pivotal parlor scene.

The review praises Psycho as a darkly amusing and manipulative film that remains compelling in its vision of human desperation, noting its departure from Hitchcock's usual style and the iconic shower scene's impact. It highlights the black comedy, audience manipulation, and psychological depth via Freudian symbolism and performances.

The review finds the film an unusual but good entertainment that is indelibly Hitchcock, praising its whimsical tone mixed with graphic murders, strong performances especially from Anthony Perkins, and effective technical elements.

The critic finds Psycho an exception to the usual enjoyment of a new Hitchcock film. The story leads to one of the most disgusting murders in screen history in a bathroom scene involving swabbing and flushing, and the film feels long with difficult-to-care-about characters and a stupid air of mystery.

The critic calls the film an unfettered cinematic masterpiece whose reputation is well-earned. They single out the subtlety, attention to detail, and Bernard Herrmann's string-heavy score for praise.

The critic finds Psycho biting, visceral, and highly entertaining, with a genre-mashing style that blends noir and horror while feeling urgent and exploitation-tinged. They single out its technical adeptness, thematic complexity, and the way it empathizes with characters' fears during tense sequences like the cover-up.