--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it…" description: "\"When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today, of course, and think it'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/leigh-whannell-4824_blood_when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was_248436.jpg" --- # When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an… ![“When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today, of course, and think it's so tame since there's no blood or any real gore in it. But for the standards of the day when it was released, it was extreme.” quote by Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/leigh-whannell-4824_blood_when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was_248436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/leigh-whannell-4824_blood_when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was_248436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/leigh-whannell-4824_blood_when-psycho-came-out-back-in-1960-it-was_248436.jpg) > “When 'Psycho' came out back in 1960, it was seen as an abomination and as this really gory thing. We all watch 'Psycho' today, of course, and think it's so tame since there's no blood or any real gore in it. But for the standards of the day when it was released, it was extreme.” [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The film was shocking in its era for implied horror, but modern audiences find it mild compared to later explicit content. **In simple terms:** What was once shocking now seems tame. Key Takeaway Recognize how cultural standards evolve. Themes censorship media perception historical context Mood analytical nostalgic Type historical critical When to use this quote - film studies - media criticism - historical analysis - classroom discussion Key Concepts cultural shift media evolution audience expectations Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about changing taste? - How does context shape our perception of art? A Different Perspective Modern viewers may miss the original impact without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [As women, we are always taught never to let a man know of our affections towards him, lest he laugh, run away, or think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjoybell-c/as-women-we-are-always-taught-never-to-let-a-man-know-of-our/) CJoybell C > [Empty, heiress, tantrums psycho, with a gun. Finger heracy clean out the poison when you cut out your tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelspit/empty-heiress-tantrums-psycho-with-a-gun-finger-heracy-clean-out-the/) [Angelspit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelspit/) > [Nobody's angry all the time, unless you're a psycho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/nobody-s-angry-all-the-time-unless-you-re-a-psycho/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [“She’s telling me not to freak out. Oh, holy fuck I must look like a complete psycho right now if Lacey is trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hart/she-s-telling-me-not-to-freak-out-oh-holy-fuck-i-must-look-like-a/) [Callie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hart/) > [My first trip abroad was to do a TV version of 'Les Miserables' in France with Anthony Perkins. There I was at 12 acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-fletcher/my-first-trip-abroad-was-to-do-a-tv-version-of-les-miserables-in/) [Dexter Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-fletcher/) > [“Dude, you ran off with the crazy chick! You ran off with the psycho girl!" he's calling after Adam. "I thought they made that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/dude-you-ran-off-with-the-crazy-chick-you-ran-off-with-the-psycho/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [There will be a competition among critics for the best Paris Hilton insult. Here's my first: Her attention span is so short that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/there-will-be-a-competition-among-critics-for-the-best-paris-hilton/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [What do you think you're doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/what-do-you-think-you-re-doing/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [He says he’d rather be dead than leave me. According to him, we’re family. I guess that makes me the psycho uncle no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/he-says-he-d-rather-be-dead-than-leave-me-according-to-him-we-re/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When I was stalking my special lady friend on MySpace, people would always say, 'Is this really Marilyn Manson or some kind of psycho?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/when-i-was-stalking-my-special-lady-friend-on-myspace-people-would/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [“CESIA: /z mądrą minką/ Psycho-lo-giczna strona. Wiem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-august-kisielewski/cesia-z-m-dr-mink-psycho-lo-giczna-strona-wiem/) Jan August Kisielewski > [Let me tell you, if your marriage is in trouble, skip the therapist and find a psycho. Nothing brings people together faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/let-me-tell-you-if-your-marriage-is-in-trouble-skip-the-therapist-and/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [“So that was it, then. She wasn't about to let me call her on anything. Not this psycho.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-wright/so-that-was-it-then-she-wasn-t-about-to-let-me-call-her-on-anything/) [Melissa Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-wright/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [In Psycho IV, the time is five years after III, and Norman is out of the hospital. He's a married man, and he's finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stefano/in-psycho-iv-the-time-is-five-years-after-iii-and-norman-is-out-of/) [Joseph Stefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stefano/) ## More by Leigh Whannell > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I do try and keep my scripts quite economical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-do-try-and-keep-my-scripts-quite-economical/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I couldn't believe that people went to see 'Saw,' that people actually lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-couldn-t-believe-that-people-went-to-see-saw-that-people-actually/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [After 'Saw,' we got offered every horror remake under the sun, and I was just always thinking, 'I don't see how this could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/after-saw-we-got-offered-every-horror-remake-under-the-sun-and-i-was/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I loved 'The Conjuring' so much. It's really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-loved-the-conjuring-so-much-it-s-really-scary/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [If you chose to be an actor, if you take that baton and say 'OK, this is what I want to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/if-you-chose-to-be-an-actor-if-you-take-that-baton-and-say-ok-this-is/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [When I directed the third 'Insidious' film I loved it so much that I decided this is what I want to do from now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/when-i-directed-the-third-insidious-film-i-loved-it-so-much-that-i/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I'm not actually terrified of technology. Though I'm certainly not an early adopter, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-m-not-actually-terrified-of-technology-though-i-m-certainly-not-an/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. 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First, that it's interesting enough that anyone would want to make it. Secondly, that anybody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/writing-a-screenplay-is-an-act-of-faith-first-that-it-s-interesting/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [You know you've have a good idea when you're lying awake at night going 'someone else is going to take it, I just know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/you-know-you-ve-have-a-good-idea-when-you-re-lying-awake-at-night/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) [Explore all 106 Leigh Whannell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) ## More Blood quotes > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Don't trust everyone, because one day you will shed tears of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunshine/don-t-trust-everyone-because-one-day-you-will-shed-tears-of-blood/) [SunShine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunshine/) > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [A day without blood is like a day without sunshine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/a-day-without-blood-is-like-a-day-without-sunshine/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“...I wore his blood for clothing, on my legs and thighs and hands: a dry, stiff, brown garment with no warmth in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-wore-his-blood-for-clothing-on-my-legs-and-thighs-and-hands-a-dry/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. 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