--- title: "Psycho: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/psycho/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/psycho" critics_score: 88 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Psycho (1960): what the critics said Critics' score 88 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics are strongly enthusiastic about Psycho, with praise centred on Hitchcock’s control of audience expectations and his ability to make technical precision serve suspense. Anthony Perkins receives particular attention for a performance the reviews find both strong and nuanced, while Bernard Herrmann’s score and the editing are repeatedly singled out for their impact. Several critics also stress the bleak humour and psychological depth, finding more here than a succession of shocks. The favourable reviews differ chiefly in emphasis: some value the mystery and entertainment, while others concentrate on voyeurism, desperation and the characters’ fears. Variety is more restrained, though it still admires the performances and technical work. The Guardian supplies the sharp dissent, finding the violence repellent, the characters difficult to care about and the mystery foolish. That objection separates it clearly from a consensus that regards Hitchcock’s manipulation as a principal strength. ## Empire — David Parkinson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/psycho-review/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 December 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-psycho-1960) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jack Harrison Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2017. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/psycho-review-1960-movie-1014164/) ## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2010. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/psycho/) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/psycho-review/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 1960. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1960/film/reviews/psycho-1200419814/) ## The Guardian 7 August 1960. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/22/psycho-hitchcock-archive-review-horror) ## Collider — Emily Bernard Rating A+. 1 October 2022. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/psycho-review-alfred-hitchcock-anthony-perkins/) ## /Film — Kieran Fisher Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1968962/psycho-1960-first-watch-thoughts/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/psycho.md