This iconic horror film remains haunting more than 60 years after it first came out. It also includes one of the best known scenes in the history of cinema.

Released in 1960, Psycho marked a defining moment in cinematic history and was directed by legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. The film shocked audiences on release and continues to influence horror filmmakers more than six decades later.

The psychological horror film was adapted from the novel Psycho by screenwriter Joseph Stefano. The story follows Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, a secretary who goes on the run after stealing a large sum of money. Her journey leads her to the remote Bates Motel, run by the awkward and unsettling Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins.

What unfolds becomes one of cinema’s most famous thrillers as Marion’s disappearance sparks an investigation by a private detective, her boyfriend Sam Loomis (John Gavin) and her sister Lila (Vera Miles). Detective Arbogast is played by Martin Balsam.

The direction of the film, haunting score, atmospheric cinematography and unforgettable performances have helped cement its reputation as a cinematic landmark. The infamous shower sequence alone has become one of the most analysed and recognisable scenes in film history.

Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus reads: “Infamous for its shower scene, but immortal for its contribution to the horror genre. Because Psycho was filmed with tact, grace, and art, Hitchcock didn’t just create modern horror, he validated it.”

Psycho was made on a modest budget and shot in black and white using the crew from the director’s television show Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

The film helped push boundaries of cinema with its radical editing and depiction of violence, psychological horror and sexuality that was rarely seen on screen at the time.

Before, horror films were gothic and otherworldly but Hitchcock brought horror into the domestic and the mundane while also breaking conventional narrative and storytelling rules which many found shocking when it first came out.

Over the years, critics have continued to celebrate the film’s impact. The Guardian previously named it the best horror film of all time.

One viewer who gave the film five stars wrote about the film: Hitchcock’s scariest film is a blast on the big screen. The picture is crisp, the sound design is superb, Hermann’s score is screechy and relentless, and the actors are in perfect sync with Hitch’s rhythms. He’s in complete control of the dark material.”

Someone else said: “Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is an undisputed masterpiece of cinema and a timeless horror classic, with its careful cinematography, edge-of-your-seat tension, haunting score, and flawless performances. Anthony Perkins gives arguably one of the greatest and most unforgettable acting performances in cinema history.”

Another viewer said last December that the work was “truly revolutionary,” adding that the film is “just incredible” and even went on to call it the “greatest horror film ever.”

Victoria Luxford from City AM wrote: “Psycho still works on the big screen. Its success lies in its ability to find horror in the mundane… the true horror of Hitchcock’s masterpiece is that (Norman Bates) could be anywhere, just waiting at that next rest stop.”

She added that the horror film is a ‘masterpiece’ that still ‘stands [the] test of time’ more than 60 years after it first came out.

Trace Thurman from Horror Queers Podcast also gave the film a 5/5: “What else can be said about Hitch’s masterpiece? It’s a masterpiece!”

The film is now streaming on Amazon Prime.