50 Years On, Taxi Driver Is Scorsese’s Most Chilling Film

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the 1976 film about a psychologically troubled Vietnam veteran‑turned‑insomniac cab driver losing his sanity in the harsh streets of New York City properly announced Scorsese, star Robert De Niro, and screenwriter Paul Schrader as the premier figures in their respective fields.

No film has ever captured the feeling of awe and disgust quite like Taxi Driver; you simultaneously want to avert your eyes and keep them glued to the screen. Beyond the blood‑soaked violence, Travis’ attempts at connecting with other people and his chilling demeanor are cringe‑inducing, and yet you can’t help but pity this broken man beaten down by life.

Michael Chapman’s cinematography and Bernard Herrmann’s moody saxophone give the film a nightmarish, hallucinogenic distortion of reality that reflects Travis’ warped headspace, making societal alienation look as gorgeous as it is disturbing.

taxi driver, martin scorsese, de niro, paul schrader, travis, new york, vietnam veteran, michael chapman, bernard herrmann, cinematography