Psych-Out

Psych-Out

The Ultimate Head Trip

Directed by Richard Rush

Produced by American International Pictures, Dick Clark Productions

1968101 min5.0 / 10

A countercultural exploitation film that uses psychedelic aesthetics and drug culture as backdrop for a runaway's search for belonging amid San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury scene.

Jenny, a deaf runaway who has just arrived in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district to find her long-lost brother, a mysterious bearded sculptor known around town as The Seeker. She falls in with a psychedelic band, Mumblin' Jim, whose members include Stoney, Ben, and Elwood. They hide her from the fuzz in their crash pad, a Victorian house crowded with love beads and necking couples. Mumblin' Jim's truth-seeking friend Dave considers the band's pursuit of success "playing games," but he agrees to help Jennie anyway.

Questions people ask

  • Is Psych-Out scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 72% of films.

  • Does Psych-Out end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 64% of films.

  • Is Psych-Out violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Psych-Out sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Psych-Out easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

22/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity95

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise4

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love5

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Psych-Out

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Psych-Out

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Psych-Out, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Psych-Out, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Psych-Out, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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