What is the name of the composer known for the 'Psycho' score?

Bernard Herrmann composed the score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). His music, especially the shrieking string writing heard during the shower scene, became one of the most recognizable soundtracks in film history.

Herrmann’s approach was unusual for a major suspense film. Instead of using a full symphony orchestra, he wrote the score entirely for strings. The restricted palette matched the movie’s stark black-and-white photography and produced a tense, abrasive sound. The famous shower cue uses rapid, stabbing gestures that intensify the violence without imitating literal screams.

Hitchcock initially wanted the shower sequence to play without music, believing the scene would be more shocking in silence. Herrmann wrote the cue anyway and persuaded Hitchcock to hear it with the footage. Hitchcock changed his mind, and the director later credited the music with supplying a major portion of Psycho’s effect. Their collaboration continued in several other films, including Vertigo and North by Northwest.

The other choices are notable composers, but they are associated with different film traditions: Henry Mancini with scores such as The Pink Panther, Danny Elfman with Batman, and John Williams with Jaws and Star Wars.