Anthony Hopkins plays the legendary director in this biopic that chronicles the personal and professional relationship between Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) during the making of his 1960 classic 'Psycho'. It's 1959 and, increasingly worried about his relevance, Hitchcock decides a change of direction is what is needed. He settles on adapting Robert Bloch's true crime novel 'Psycho', despite the protestations of both Alma and Paramount President Barney Balaban (Richard Portnow).

Having to mortgage their house to pay for the film, Alma's initial opposition soon gives way to support, as she dutifully throws herself fully behind the project. But as her husband begins to indulge himself in his trademark flights of fancy with a variety of blonde stars, Alma, whilst trying to keep the marriage on the rails, is determined that her own needs take centre stage.