Did You Know Martin Scorsese Made A Body Horror Film?

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Martin Scorsese is famous for his gangster films like *Goodfellas*, *Casino*, and *The Departed*. However, many people don’t realize that early in his career, before he became well-known with films like *Who’s That Knocking at My Door*, he also directed a horror film focusing on body horror. Over the last 60 years, he’s created many memorable dramas, but this early work is a surprising addition to his filmography.

I recently found a six-minute short film from 1967 called *The Big Shave* while browsing HBO Max. It wasn’t until the credits rolled that I realized Martin Scorsese directed this striking and surprisingly violent film, which offers a commentary on the social issues of the 1960s.

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The Short Starts Off Harmless But Slowly Turns Into Blood-Soaked Trauma

Do you remember the public service announcements from the 1960s that showed ideal citizens – people who ate well, drove safely, and were polite? The short film *The Big Shave* begins similarly, with a young man, played by Peter Bernuth, carefully shaving in a completely white bathroom. I initially expected a commentary on fitting in, but it quickly takes a shocking turn when he starts to bleed – and bleed a lot.

Within moments, the bathroom—and the man inside—is completely drenched in blood. It’s not a minor cut; think of Travis Bickle’s gruesome injuries at the end of *Taxi Driver*, but even more extreme. The amount of blood is shocking, and he continues to shave relentlessly despite it.

The Big Shave Can Be Seen As A Commentary On The Vietnam War

As a film buff, I find *The Big Shave* – sometimes called *Viet ‘67* – incredibly powerful. It’s a short, disturbing piece of body horror, but it’s so much more than just shock value. It really struck me as a metaphor for the self-destruction happening in America as we got deeper and deeper into the Vietnam War. As Bilge Ebiri pointed out in a recent essay for Criterion, the film portrays a man literally tearing himself apart, which feels like a perfect representation of the nation at the time.

Similar to how George A. Romero’s classic zombie film, *The Night of the Living Dead*, both scared and provoked thought, Scorsese’s gripping and disturbing film achieved the same effect a year later, forcing audiences to confront familiar themes in a new way.

There’s A Surrealist Comedy Short By Scorsese That’s Just As Wild

I recently found another early short film by Martin Scorsese on HBO Max, in addition to *The Big Shave*. Called *What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?*, it’s a quirky, black-and-white comedy from a few years prior. The nine-minute film centers on Algernon (played by Zeph Michaelis), a writer who goes by Harry, and his growing obsession with a simple painting of a boat on a lake. This obsession starts to interfere with his daily life, making it hard for him to eat, sleep, work, or even function normally.

This film is delightfully strange, consistently funny, and occasionally a bit unsettling, creating a truly immersive experience. It’s wonderfully unconventional, and it’s exciting to see such creativity from a director early in their career, before they became a legend.

You can find Martin Scorsese’s early short films, including *The Big Shave* and *What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?*, on HBO Max. They’re also included in a larger collection from the Criterion Collection, and I’m planning to watch more of them soon.

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2025-10-10 01:08