Critics from the "New York Daily News", "New York Daily Mirror", and "Village Voice" were positive: writing: "Anthony Perkins' performance is the best of his career ... Janet Leigh has never been better", "played out beautifully", and "first American movie since "Touch of Evil" to stand in the same creative rank as the great European films", respectively. A mixed review from the "New York Herald Tribune"s review stated, "... rather difficult to be amused at the forms insanity may take ... keeps your attention like a snake-charmer."