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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Barber Shop remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like W.C. Fields being grumpy and clumsy, yes. If you need a plot that actually goes somewhere, skip it. This is strictly for people who want to see a master of physical comedy fail at the simplest task imaginable.
There is no real story here. It is just a guy in a shop causing chaos. The man cannot cut hair to save his life. It’s painful to watch, but in that way where you can’t look away.
The wife character is just… loud. She’s the classic nagging archetype, and honestly, she kind of has a point. If my barber started hacking away at my face like that, I would be yelling too. 💈
There is a moment with a shave that feels like it lasts an eternity. The razor moves way too close to skin for comfort. You can practically hear the audience holding their breath.
It’s not as polished as The Goal Rush, but it has this weird, frantic energy. It feels like a sketch that got slightly out of hand. Sometimes the best bits are the ones that feel like they might fall apart any second.
It’s definitely not high art. It reminds me a bit of the frantic vibe in Air Pockets where things just keep going wrong. You don’t watch this for the technical skill. You watch it to see how much of a mess one guy can make in ten minutes.
Honestly? I’ve had worse haircuts. Maybe not with a straight razor, but still. ✂️
The ending doesn't really land, but who cares. The fun is in the middle of the carnage. It’s just a man versus his own incompetence, and the man is losing hard.