Matthew Zeno knows how to keep an audience on edge. With The Scorpion, his latest short film, he delivers a gripping, high-voltage narrative where every shot feels intentional, every moment coiled with tension. Zeno’s storytelling isn’t just about what’s seen on screen—it’s about what lingers long after, proving once again that he’s a director who doesn’t just tell stories; he makes you feel them.
Zeno grew up in a quiet, unremarkable part of Brooklyn—where the most thrilling event was someone’s trash can blowing over. Naturally, this left him craving the obscure and abnormal. 
“My brain? A stubborn, unpredictable creature, oscillating between being my greatest ally and my worst nightmare. It’s this very stubbornness that led me here,” said Zeno. “Creative director, filmmaker—next logical step.”
For Zeno, filmmaking wasn’t part of some grand master plan. It was more of a happy accident. In 2022 at 18, he decided to pack his bags and trek down south to Florida, determined to shake ...