One murder scene, 78 camera setups, 52 cuts—and a documentary that dissects it like a fever dream.
The most famous murder scene in movie history comprises 78 camera settings and 52 cuts: the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. 78/52 tells the story of the man behind the curtain and his greatest obsession.
Editing
Frame-by-frame breakdown of Hitchcock's rhythmic violence.
Direction
Philippe's obsessive formalism mirrors his subject perfectly.
Practical Effects
Chocolate syrup as blood—low-budget genius revealed.
Director
Alexandre O. Philippe
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title '78/52' refers to 78 camera setups and 52 cuts in the 45-second shower scene—numbers Hitchcock obsessively storyboarded over seven days.
Guillermo del Toro reveals he storyboards every film as religiously as Hitchcock, calling the shower scene 'practically pornographic' in its technique.
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