Psycho: 78/52 documentary showers you in Hitchcock’s genius (review)
By Joey Click
With 78/52 now playing in select cinemas and VOD platforms everywhere, we’re taking a look at the Psycho shower scene documentary. Will you stay the night?
“People always call a madhouse “someplace”, don’t they? “Put her in someplace!” — Norman Bates
THE INTRO
Since 1960, one scene in American cinema has reigned above everything else. With masterpiece after masterpiece coming from auteurs in the decades following, only one moment in movie making has captivated an audience, and an industry, like no other — the Psycho shower scene…chances are you’ve seen it.
So when I found out a documentary solely on the immortal moment was on the way, I knew I had to see exactly how it would shape itself. With the team behind The People vs. George Lucas (2010) and Doc of the Dead (2014) at the helm, my hopes were high to say the least.
So is the 78/52 something to shower yourself in or is it another documentary throwing your time down the drain? Let’s head to Bates Motel and find out.
THE GOOD
— Courtesy of IFC Films
More from Alfred Hitchcock
- Going Psycho for the Alfred Hitchcock 4K Collection in September
- Enzian Theater to reopen with Hitchcock showcase
- Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock’s Oedipus Rex masterpiece turns 60
- Alfred Hitchcock presents series: Legacy #3 is Murder!
- Hitchock’s Legacy #2: Blackmail (1929 film)
Focusing solely on Psycho’s iconic moment, 78/52 is a true love letter to not only Alfred Hitchcock, but the world of cinema. Staying black and white, honoring the 1960 masterpiece in its approach, the documentary is an unforgettable thesis on film’s greatest sequence.
While 78/52 features a variety of people talking about many aspects of Marion Crane’s death, each exhibiting the same characteristic — passion. Speaking with directors (Mick Garris, Guillermo del Toro), actors (Elijah Wood, Jamie Lee Curtis) and writers (Leigh Whannell, Bret Easton Ellis) each truly radiates passion. Passion for Psycho. Passion for Hitchcock. Passion for film.
And speaking of people, Anthony Perkins’ son, Oz Perkins, is in the documentary. Shockingly resembling his legendary parent, it’s great to hear the younger Perkins’ thought on his father’s legacy. He comes off as having spiritually and emotionally distancing himself from his father’s image, so his thoughts are more of a scholastic nature and less of a family affair — great for passionate, yet educational, discussions of things.
THE BAD
While the experience is almost all crystal clear, like some good Bates Motel water, parts of 78/52 are murky like Hershey syrup. Although interviews are an integral part of documentary filmmaking, too many begin to bury the experience here. Sure, they aren’t too distracting or damaging, but when there are too many talking heads, the doc begins to feel stale. But, again, not a huge complaint for an otherwise solid doc.
THE BLOODY VERDICT
Alexandre O. Philippe‘s 78/52 is absolutely worth your time. A dream for Psycho and Hitchcock historians alike, the documentary keeps things moving with fresh ideas and even fresher approaches. While the experience is a little wooden at times and features a few too many interviews, there’s far worse horror docs on the market.
78/52 is now available on VOD platforms everywhere. Check in with IFC Films and rent your copy today.