Name: The Big Shave
Genre: Short, Drama, Horror
Duration: 5 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Peter Bernuth

Early Scorsese shorts (inc. The Big Shave)

When watching Martin Scorsese's first footsteps into film-making it occurs that only a very fortunate few might have experienced these cinematic nuggets before encountering the behemoth output he has since delivered. Made during his time at New York University, the three films serve as an indicator of what would follow with Scorsese at the helm of feature films such as Mean Streets and Taxi Driver in the coming ten years. Mutilation, straight- talking male buddies and ennui are themes honed in the Italian American's earliest works, Scorsese hallmarks easily identifiable for any self-respecting fan of American cinema viewing the films today.

Influences we are readily familiar with thanks to documentaries such as My Voyage to Italy and his Personal Journey Through American Movies are boldly recognisable; from the incendiary Colonel Blimp hunting sequence aped with the use of home furnishings in What's a Nice Girl..., to the swift use of editing throughout that reminds us of Messieurs Godard and Truffaut (or should that be Monsieur Coutard?). Scorsese is known as a director who wears his influences on his sleeve and the beginnings of that trait are present even here. The Big Shave's less than subtle metaphor for America's self-destructiveness at war with Vietnam is indicative of the vitality of the New American Cinema's outlook, whilst exhibiting a flair for dark humour and a confident use of music that points to the revolutionary works that were to come.

With these three short films Scorsese leaves an early legacy neither tentative or deliberately artsy, but confident and forthright, establishing an air of cool that has never left the director.

The body horror subgenre features the physical and psychological transformation, deformation, or degradation of the human body. In body horror stories, the human body itself becomes a source of fear, anxiety, and disgust, often through graphic and disturbing depictions of bodily changes, mutilation, or alteration.

The dark comedy subgenre, also known as black comedy, combines humor with elements of tragedy, morbidity, or darker themes. Dark comedies often explore serious or taboo subjects, such as death, crime, dysfunction, and societal issues, while infusing these topics with humor to create an unusual and often thought-provoking contrast. The humor in dark comedies is typically edgy, satirical, and often unsettling, challenging traditional comedic norms.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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In the process of shaving, a young man cuts himself. A lot.

New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

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The Big Shave

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