One of the most prolific horror filmmakers, Hitchcock’s influence on the genre can’t be understated.
And Psycho is probably the most significant of all his films, which include The Birds, North by Northwest, Vertigo, and over 50 more. But between Psycho’s iconic shower stabbing scene, the tense music, and the unexpected twist at the end, it’s considered one of Hitchcock’s greatest works of all time.
In fact, Psycho set a precedent for violence and sex in films and television, allowing filmmakers to push themselves further than ever before. It’s considered one of the first slasher films and inspired several spin-offs, sequels, and follow-ups. But it also inspired some of our favorite newer horror films and series, which wouldn’t be around today if it weren’t for Hitchcock’s Psycho 65 years earlier, so here are some of the best.
Psycho Sequels: Psycho II, Psycho III, Psycho IV: The Beginning
While they weren’t nearly as successful or critically acclaimed as their predecessor, Psycho inspired several sequels in the 1960 film’s original timeline, even referencing the original characters and starring Anthony Perkins, who played Norman Bates. Psycho II, directed by Richard Franklin, takes place 22 years after the original film, when Norman is released from a mental facility and returned to operate Bates Motel. Psycho III, directed by Anthony Perkins himself, takes place just one month after Psycho II.
Psycho IV: The Beginning was released in 1990 and marks Anthony’s final appearance in the franchise. Using the element of time jumps, it is both a sequel and prequel to the 1960 Psycho. Although all three sequels received mixed and mostly positive reviews, and were lauded for their apt homages to Hitchcock, they all suffered from the legacy that Psycho left behind, unable to live up to it.
Bates Motel (2013–2017)
Starring Freddie Highmore as a young Norman Bates, A&E developed the Bates Motel series, a five-season prequel to the events of Psycho. It follows the events described in Psycho from the death of Norma Bates’s husband and Norman’s father. The mother-son duo buys the eponymous motel and begin their joint killing spree from the get-go. Season 5 leads up to the events of Psycho, placed two years after Norma’s death as Norman teeters into the man he will become. While Bates Motel isn’t nearly as prolific as Psycho, it’s an apt modern-day reference to the franchise.
Halloween (1978)
Probably the most obvious horror film derived from Psycho, Halloween (and its subsequent franchise films) is considered the first foray into modern slasher films. While Psycho may have invented the slasher genre, Halloween took it to a whole new level, with more effects, gore, and violence than ever before. In fact, if we didn’t see the immediate inspiration drawn from Psycho to Halloween, the casting and characters make it clear. Jamie Lee Curtis, the franchise’s heroine, is the daughter of Janet Leigh, who starred as Marion Crane in Psycho. Dr. Samuel Loomis, one of Halloween’s main protagonists, also got his name from Psycho’s Sam Loomis, Marion’s lover. And like Psycho, the musical theme to Halloween has become synonymous with the film itself as one of the most recognizable in the horror genre.
Scream (1996)
Although Scream is ultimately a satire, it is also a horror legend almost 30 years after its release. And it clearly references Psycho, among other classic horror films (such as the aforementioned Halloween). In its opening scene, Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker takes part in a nefarious phone call, through which she comes face to face with Scream’s antagonist, “Ghostface.” Although Drew is a big star, she gets stabbed to death in Scream’s opening scene, not dissimilar to how Marion is stabbed and killed just halfway through Psycho. Drew even revealed while interviewing Jamie Lee Curtis that she drew inspiration from Janet’s 1960 performance. In addition, the twist at the end of Scream, while not an exact copy of Psycho, pulls from Psycho’s trope of swapped identities.
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
One of the most popular modern-day horror franchises, the Insidious franchise drew some direct inspiration from Psycho’s gender-bending serial killer. While critics agree that this device can often be seen as transphobic due to the othering of a man dressed as a woman, it is still quite common. Insidious: Chapter 2 takes it to another level as Patrick Wilson’s Josh is possessed by an old woman called the Bride in Black. However, the gender flips again by the end, when it’s revealed that the Bride in Black was actually a serial killer named Parker Crane (perhaps a reference to the Crane sisters in Psycho). Like Norman Bates, Parker dressed as a woman when he murdered under the influence of his mother’s spirit. Although Insidious deals much more with the supernatural than Psycho, the influence is clear.
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Often referenced as one of Psycho’s most highly acclaimed successors, Dressed to Kill starred Michael Caine as the film’s central psychotherapist. Without giving too much away, it also employs Psycho’s gender-bending serial killer device. Because of how deep Dressed to Kill goes into the psychology of this, the film is still incredibly controversial when it comes to both feminism and trans rights, often cited as a misrepresentation of sexual minorities as disturbed. Although we definitely don’t stand for that, Dressed to Kill draws from Psycho in how it builds tension, killing off a potential protagonist early in the film, an iconic shower scene, and the final explanation. However, its campiness and “flamboyance” has still made it a cult favorite of the LGBTQ+ community.
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