Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Psycho Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 24, 2023

Note: This version of this film is available as part of Arrow's The Psycho Collection.

Psycho would hardly seem on its face(s) to be a property that would be easily "franchise-able", which may be why it took so long for the first sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's memorable original to come out. One way or the other, though, the four Psycho films aggregated in this handsomely packaged new(ish) set from Arrow have what I personally consider to be some remarkably facile "updates" to a story that is by now so well known that even those who haven't seen the 1960 classic (and I found out after I posted my review of Universal's first Blu-ray release of that film that there were an inordinately huge amount of folks who hadn't) know the "big secret". However, knowledge of that "big secret" arguably partially informs the at least intermittently rather smart attempts at revisiting the inimitable character of Norman Bates in Psycho II and Psycho III, if admittedly that same intelligence may not extend to the made for television Psycho IV.

As alluded to above and as is no doubt well known to collectors, Psycho has had a number of releases on Blu-ray and 4K UHD disc in Region A. My Psycho Blu-ray review is of the first 1080 release from Universal, but should provide ample plot information, a list of what supplements were offered on that list, as well as my reactions to that now pretty old technical presentation.

Psycho Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Psycho is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow has included the same booklet for its 4K UHD and 1080 sets, and that booklet includes the following information on the restoration:

Psycho is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with mono and DTS:X audio. The film was scanned, restored in 4K and graded in SDR and HDR10 by NBC Universal.

I was generally quite pleased with the look of Universal's now ancient first 1080 release, but as Marty Liebman mentions in his Psycho 4K Blu-ray review, which included a remastered 1080 disc which is more or less duplicated here, there are noticeable upticks in this "new, improved" version. Some of what I assume were compression anomalies that I noted in my own Psycho Blu-ray review have been at worst ameliorated here but really I'd argue more or less eliminated, with subtle but distinct improvements in overall fine detail levels. Contrast is as appealing as it was on the first 1080 release for Region A, offering some sumptuously deep blacks and very well modulated grayscale. As seems to be "baked in" with this feature, at least judging by every home theater version I've personally seen, there are still some undeniable variances in grain resolution and clarity at some intermittent junctures, aside and apart from any opticals like dissolves.

Psycho Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As Marty mentions in his Psycho 4K Blu-ray review of the Region A release from Universal, the DTS:X track included on this disc may not radically reinvent a rather beautifully layered track that had already had a 5.1 rejiggering for Universal's first 1080 release from years ago (discussed in my review of the 1080 version). That may actually be one of this track's strengths, though, as it rather subtly opens up the soundstage, especially with regard to Bernard Herrmann's still commanding score. There are definitely some immersive moments in some of the spookier sequences, but the track doesn't go out of its way to be overly "showy", which I consider to be a good thing. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout.

Psycho Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Psycho Uncut (1:49:04) and the slightly edited re-release and TV version of Psycho (1:48:51) are accessible under the Play Menu.


• The Making of Psycho (HD; 1:34:16) is a really fun and informative tour through the production.


• Psycho Sound (HD; 9:58) addresses the 5.1 repurposing of the soundtrack.


• In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy (HD; 25:59) offers an appreciation of Hitch by the likes of Martin Scorsese and John Carpenter, among many others.


• Hitchcock / Truffaut (HD; 15:22) offers audio recordings of the famous discussions between the two titans of contemporary cinema. This plays to key art and scenes from the film.


• Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho (HD; 7:46)


• The Shower Scene: With and Without Music (HD; 2:32)


• The Shower Sequence: Storyboards by Saul Bass (HD; 4:10)


• The Psycho Archives (HD; 7:48)


• Posters and Psycho Ads (HD; 3:00)


• Lobby Cards (HD; 1:30)


• Behind the Scenes Photographs (HD; 8:00)


• Production Photographs (HD; 8:30)


• Psycho Theatrical Trailers (HD; 6:31)


• Psycho Re-release Trailer (HD; 1:52)


• Feature Commentary is by Stephen Rebello.

Psycho Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Psycho is an unabashed classic, though as I mentioned in my review of Universal's first 1080 release for Region A, its pace may drive younger viewers in particular a little crazy (hopefully not quite as crazy as Norman, but I digress). Arrow provides a release with solid technical merits and excellent supplements. Highly recommended.