Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer sets out on a journey to track down the perpetrator. As the hunt progresses, she comes to realize the man responsible is a sadistic serial killer, and the depth of his mental depravity and his sinister agenda is more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
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- Garrett Wilkins6d agoIt's no surprise that Psycho Killer became a favorite target for critics, especially since it came with the baggage of a screenplay that had been around for almost twenty years. With a mere 9% on the Tomatometer, it seems like there's nothing worth defending about the film, but I think that's a bit unfair. Gavin Polone manages to create some genuinely effective atmosphere with the rain-soaked roads and lonely highways in a hunt for what seems to be an almost supernatural killer. The low-key sound design and occasional jarring moments of violence give the film more punch than its reputation might suggest. It may not be the best slasher out there, but I think the overall critical response feels quite a bit harsher than this movie deserved. A big part of why I feel differently than the majority is Georgina Campbell. She adds a raw desperation to her role that brings more humanity to the film than what Andrew Kevin Walker's thin script usually offers. Even some negative reviews have highlighted her as a standout. The real issue is that Psycho Killer tends to lose whatever momentum it builds. The chase scenes get to a point where they become completely repetitive, and the story just overall takes some odd turns. The pacing feels dragged out, and the plot gets a bit too hard to take seriously, leaving Campbell to shoulder more than the script can handle. Nonetheless, calling it one of the worst studio movies of the year seems a bit extreme. There's a solid lead performance, some decent atmosphere, and enough initial promise that I'm glad I watched it. Psycho Killer may be flawed and often frustrating, but its reputation makes it sound a lot worse than it actually is.
- MazzSeptember 17, 2026It’s definitely better than the scores given from RT and whatever else is out there. Give it a chance if you’re in the mood for a good horror slasher movie.
- cultfilmlikerFebruary 19, 2026Run, run, run. Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, far away from this film! Truly, qu'est-ce que c'est? (I’m sorry I had to do it Stop Making Sense is in my top 25) Anti-scary Too much Kansas talk for this shitty of a movie. Actually….the right amount of Kansas talk! Atrocious. Not a thing in this film made sense lol would be perfect for MST3K Tries to be like In A Violent Nature but is just so much worse in every way This lady has a car cigarette lighter!! What!!!! Only person more conspicuous than the cop is the killer lmfao I totally forgot about our protagonist during the third act hahahah TL;DR It’s like My Bloody Valentine but not fun at all and stripped of any semblance of style (I happened to listen to MBV on the way to the theater!! That’s fun!) Watched at Warren Regal 21 Currently Ranked #17/18 in 2026 Ranked
- frodus11May 25, 2026Pretty cool Killer, but a bit of a mess overall. At some points in the movie, I found myself disagreeing with all the negative reviews... And then something would happen on screen to prove to me why it is disliked so much. Not upset to have watched it. But a difficult movie to recommend.
- shampaineApril 8, 2026This really wasn't as bad as people said it was. I did enjoy it for what it was and despite the ending being a bit ambiguous, I do not regret watching it. Georgina Campbell, great as usual and she never misses a beat with her acting. She is one of my favorite under the radar actors from the last couple of years and a total beauty.
- Paul WalshMay 8, 2026I actually dug the first twenty minutes of this flick but it seemed to degrade in quality as the movie continued. Very derivative and bland, the beginning five minutes are the best part
- DarioMay 16, 2026Psycho Killer (2026) arrives with incredible baggage — nearly two decades in development, a script by the writer of Se7en, and a lead in Georgina Campbell who has quietly become one of the most compelling horror presences working right now. The film wastes most of that. The premise is solid: a grieving Kansas highway patrol officer hunts the serial killer who murdered her husband in front of her. But the screenplay never commits to being either a psychological study or a proper slasher, and the result is something that sits uncomfortably between both without satisfying either. Campbell is earnest and grounded throughout, doing her genuine best to hold the film’s emotional center. James Preston Rogers, as the Satanic Slasher, is physically imposing but undone by a cartoonishly ADR’d voice and a villain motivation that barely extends beyond “Satan.” Malcolm McDowell shows up as a satanic billionaire grocery magnate — a phrase that should generate enormous energy — and does almost nothing with it. The first twenty minutes suggest a genuinely atmospheric thriller. The final act suggests someone swapped the script mid-production. There’s a better movie buried inside this one. It didn’t make it out.
- Cooney1021April 21, 2026The almost nonexistent story is nearly as bad as the acting in this poorly directed feature. Like a constipated strain, the film and its actors push so hard to be taken seriously and all the audience gets is a dingleberry we can’t shake for 90 minutes. Do not expect a Fincher (Seven) or Schumacher (8MM) film / story telling experience. You would get the same experience, or better, out of any of the Texas Chainsaws of the last 15-20 years.
- Paul CraneMay 3, 2026Super mid. Not even worth the space on my hard drive.
- Kevin WardApril 26, 2026This felt like a spoof of 90’s era serial killer movies and I low key loved it. I was kind of surprised at the seriously low lb scores out there on this one. If they had added the word “movie” to the end of the title and maybe thrown one of the Wayans brothers a small part in this, I’d bet the scores would be significantly higher. It’s goofy. The killer’s mask and voice are ridiculous, but honestly the over the top blood and gore kinda hit. Plus Georgina Campbell is great and is building that horror resumé.
- jackmeatApril 10, 2026My quick rating - 5.1/10. I found it oddly inviting that this flick opens with some “hey, there’s a killer on the loose” headlines. Is Psycho Killer politely giving us a chance to back out before things get slashy? Naturally, that ain't happening. We lean in. And almost immediately, we’re on a highway with a guy who just screams, “do not make eye contact at a gas station.” The setup is solid. After the brutal murder of her husband, Georgina, played by Georgina Campbell, goes into full tunnel vision revenge mode. She’s tracking down a killer who isn’t just your average slasher. This guy, portrayed by James Preston Rogers, treats murder like a cross-country hobby. Midwest road trip, but instead of souvenirs, it’s victims. Not exactly something you can scrapbook. Director Gavin Polone deserves some credit here because, visually, Psycho Killer knows how to look good. I enjoyed those slick highway shots. Especially the ones capturing the reflections in the killer’s sunglasses. There’s also a moment where he’s casually watching a documentary about serial killers, because of course he is. And yes, Charles Manson gets a nod. Nothing says “normal evening” like taking notes from history’s worst people. Now, let’s talk kills. The movie definitely has one scene that will stick with you. The confession booth murder. That one? Yeah…you’re not unseeing that anytime soon. It’s creative, disturbing, and earns its place in my horror memory bank. The other is a pretty solid axe-wielding scene that delivers. Aside from that, the rest of the kills are surprisingly tame. For a movie called Psycho Killer, it often feels more like Mildly Concerned Killer. Where things start to stumble is the pacing. For a cat-and-mouse thriller, I was expecting some cat-and-mouse action. Not really. Georgina tracks this guy down way too fast, and when they finally collide, the aftermath feels weirdly low-stakes. You expect tension, fallout, something. Instead, it shrugs and moves on. Even when Malcolm McDowell shows up as Mr. Pendleton (every creepy story benefits from Malcolm McDowell), the film never fully kicks into gear. The effects, though, deserve a shout. The blend of CGI and practical blood is actually impressive. Nothing looks overly fake or distractingly digital. It’s one of those rare cases where the balance works, and you appreciate the effort even when the story is dragging. At 91 minutes, Psycho Killer doesn’t overstay its welcome, but it never hits any top speed. More just cruise control. The chase lacks urgency. The tension comes in bursts rather than a steady build. And then , we get a finale that feels like it just woke from a nap. Knowing the script by Andrew Kevin Walker has been floating around since 2007 (Wiki), it does kinda explain why it feels a bit out of sync with modern horror. It’s like a time capsule. And it hasn't been updated. Still, it’s not a total loss. There are flashes of creativity and a couple of genuinely memorable moments to keep you entertained. And yes, it even throws in a sequel tease backed by the pounding beats of 3TEETH, because nothing says “round two is coming” like aggressive industrial music. Psycho Killer isn’t a bad movie. It just should’ve been better. It has the pieces, but it just never quite assembles them into something better than adequate. But hey, at least we got that confession booth scene. And I doubt you'll trust motel documentaries again.
- social_assassinApril 13, 2026Psycho Killer is a flawed and incoherent film, with no substance and a mundane cast. The plot, (if you can even call it one), revolves around a generic satanic killer on a mindless killing spree. The highlight of the movie was Malcom McDowell, and he was completely wasted in a poorly written and underdeveloped subplot. And quite frankly, if you would have replaced the killers mask with a Michael Myers mask, it would be hard to differentiate between the two. On top of all this, the decision to use terrible CGI over practical effects further diminishes the impact and realism of the murders. Considering Andrew Kevin Walker wrote this and hasn't really written anything nearly as good as Se7en, suggests his peak may already be behind him.
- stuhannafordApril 13, 2026I pretty much switched off after the tanker scene. A bit of a mess to be honest, and continues the feeling I have that McDowell is only ever cast when producers look over a ropey script and think, "we've got to add some crazy in to turn this around." So much makes little sense (impenetrable room, no access for anyone... oh wait, the security guard just remembered the massive window and viewing gallery), the voice and so much more have issues. The times of being able to garner interest in a horror, simply by having gory scenes is long gone, and I'm afraid the story isn't strong enough to hold much interest.
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Psycho Killer was released on February 20, 2026.
Psycho Killer was directed by Gavin Polone.
Psycho Killer has a runtime of 1h 31m.
Psycho Killer was produced by Andrew Kevin Walker, Matt Berenson, Roy Lee, Arnon Milchan.
Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer sets out on a journey to track down the perpetrator. As the hunt progresses, she comes to realize the man responsible is a sadistic serial killer, and the depth of his mental depravity and his sinister agenda is more twisted than anyone could have imagined.
The key characters in Psycho Killer are Jane Archer (Georgina Campbell), Psycho Killer (James Preston Rogers), Mr. Pendleton (Malcolm McDowell).
Psycho Killer is rated R.
Psycho Killer is a Crime, Horror, Thriller film.
Psycho Killer has an audience rating of 3.5 out of 10.
Psycho Killer had a budget of $10M.
Psycho Killer has made $2.4M at the box office.