78/52 (Alexandre O. Philippe, 2017, USA)

78/52 is another of Alexandre O. Philippe’s examinations of horror/cult movie classics - in this case, Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1960 classic Psycho. The title refers to the number of camera setups and cuts in the infamous shower sequence, which was written by Saul Bass (best known for his iconic Hollywood posters). The film delivers on the promise of examining that scene, delivering a giant cast of talking heads, including many iconic directors and other film talent, to explore the impact of Psycho and this scene in particular. As with most of Philippe’s films, this one is for the fans. It likely won’t win any new converts to the film, but for those who are already fans of Hitchcock and Psycho, it is a delight.

The film also includes a significant number of tidbits and trivia that may even be new to fans of the film. Notably, a discussion of the particular melon that was used to get the sound of the knife slashing was particularly interesting. There was also an exploration of the painting that Norman Bates moves to peek at Marion Crane, which was particularly interesting. Of course, the majority of the film is devoted to the shower scene itself, and the film delves into great detail with how the illusion of violence was achieved, including confirmation that chocolate syrup was indeed used for the blood.

The film also offers some interesting insights into how Psycho was perceived at the time. Hitch was quite involved in the release and made sure that nobody was leaving the theater during the movie or arriving late, which was quite common in movie houses in an earlier era. It is interesting to note that even showing a bathroom was a revolutionary move in cinema at the time. Overall, 78/52 is a fun document for horror fans.

8/10