78/52 at Revelation Perth International Film Festival

There are few more famous sequences in cinema than the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary Psycho. Documentarian (Doc of the Dead, The People Vs George Lukas) Alexandre O. Phillippe’s 78/52 – the title refers to the number of shots and the length of the scene – explores the sequence with a wide range of filmmakers, actors, critics and writers, these include, amongst others, Guillermo del Toro, Danny Elfman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Leigh Whannell, Elijah Wood and Janet Leigh’s body double Marli Renfro.

78/52 is a fascinating exploration of the artistic, technical, aesthetic, and culture aspects of the scene. Leaving no stone unturned, the film plays like a forensic examination of Hitchcock’s most infamous and influential work.

Essential viewing for fans of Hitchcock, students of cinema and culture, and filmmakers, 78/52 is a fascinating journey into movie making and the enduring power of the silver screen.