In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho ushered in the modern era of horror filmmaking. But in order for the film to make the impact that Hitch wanted, he was going to need to overcome several massive obstacles to fulfill his vision. Whether it was the censor board, struggles with the music editing, or the very way that films were screened at the time, it was all going to be an uphill battle. Join us for the conclusion to our two-part debut episode on Psycho.

Stick around to the end to hear the announcement for our 1961 episode, which will be released on 11/13/2025.

In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock released Psycho, a bold new sort of horror film that shocked audience's with it's sequences of murder and depravity, including a shower stabbing sequence that is firmly in the canon of iconic film moments. But where did this cinematic burst of bloodlust come from? In part 1 of our debut episode of Years of Fear, we explore the evolution of the first 60+ years of onscreen violence and death that lead up to Janet Leigh's iconic death sequence. We also explore the film's director, his early career, and the artistic dead end that made Psycho possible.

Join us for the beginning of our journey of the first four years of 1960s Horror Cinema.

From the creator of Toxic Schlock comes "Years of Fear: A History of Horror", a horror history podcast that explores the movies that shaped horror, the people that made them, and the culture that made them possible. Every episode explores the most important horror film of the year, beginning in 1960 with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

This preview clip of the show's debut episode, which premieres on 10/23/2025, sets the table for the beginning of the world's entry into a new world of fear.

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