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The Big Shave
The Big Shave

The Big Shave

December 29, 1967· 0h 6m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score6.9

A young man walks into a meticulously clean and sterile bathroom and proceeds to shave away hair, then skin, in an increasingly bloody and graphic bathroom scene.

Critics Sentiment

Critics6.9
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
|
8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
14 reviews·Last updated 20d ago
Peak Moment

Vertical blood lines stream down his chest dramatically

8.2at 5m
Lowest Moment

Small cuts appear and first drops of blood hit the sink

5.8at 3m
Biggest Swing

The film dips to its lowest point when blood first appears, then builds steadily to its climactic throat-cutting sequence

Reviewers appreciated Scorsese's technical mastery and bold vision in this early work, praising the stylish cinematography, perfect musical choice, and effective gore. While some found the Vietnam War metaphor heavy-handed, most admired the film's audacious imagery and the disturbing contrast between casual jazz music and escalating self-harm. The sentiment builds from solid technical appreciation to genuine admiration for the climactic bloodbath.

14 reviews analyzed|Sources: Imdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

Stylish editing introduces the pristine white bathroom
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Smooth 1930s jazz music I Can't Get Started plays
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
The initial shave goes smoothly without incident
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Small cuts appear and first drops of blood hit the sink⬇ Lowest moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
The man traces horizontal lines of blood across his cheeks
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
He cuts his throat from ear to ear with the razor
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Vertical blood lines stream down his chest dramatically⬆ Peak moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
The image fades to red screen with Viet 67 title
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it

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