The 1978 "documentary" "Faces of Death" rocked western culture.
The film purported to show actual murders in between commentary from a pathologist who shared context for the grisly kills. Except said pathologist was actually actor Michael Carr, and most of the "kills" were staged for maximum shock value.
"Faces of Death" got banned in 46 countries and became a VHS-era legend, sparking multiple sequels.
And now, of course, it's back.
"Faces of Death," opening nationwide April 10, takes a dramatically different approach to the material. It's a straightforward horror film showcasing a fiend inspired by the original film series. There's never a sense that what we're seeing is real, but the story overlaps with modern times.
The protagonist (Barbie Ferreira) serves as a social media moderator who flags incendiary videos as she sees fit. When she spots a series of clips that could feature actual murders, she investigates the source of the videos.
Yes, elements of the film are shocking in the grand horror movie tradition, but in an age where the grisly "Terrifier" films are the norm, what content could actually unnerve us? And that doesn't include the fiendish videos floating around TikTok, Reddit and less savory destinations.
The marketing team behind the film shrewdly created posters that were too over-the-top for public display, hoping to latch on to the original saga's dangerous branding.
We've become almost immune to shock and, more alarming, callous to the pain inflicted on others. And that's partially the motivation behind the new "Faces of Death." It knows it can't shock us in a traditional sense, but by holding up a mirror to society, we're forced to see what we've become.
And it's not pretty.
Director/co-writer Daniel Goldhaber explained his rationale for the reboot to the LA Times.
“What is it like living in a world in which you can see anything you want at any time that you want?” he asks. “What does it mean when the most cursed and terrifying piece of media that most people could name is now beamed into everybody’s pocket 24 hours a day? And the largest tech companies in the world are extracting profit from it? That feels like a profoundly disturbing shift in our relationship to violence and media.”
So far, the remake is generating seriously split reviews.
The Hollywood Reporter saw through the film's marketing mojo: "It all sounds very impressive and very thoughtful. But they give the game away when they describe the film this way: 'It is an exploitation of an iconic exploitation film.'"
While IndieWire thought the film's focus on social media madness made perfect sense.
What's undeniable? "Faces of Death" won't have the cultural relevance of the original films. We won't smuggle physical copies of it to share with neighbors in the dark of night or wonder how many of the on-screen deaths actually happened. It doesn't help that familiar actors are front and center in the production, from "Euphoria's" Ferreira to co-star Dacre Montgomery of "Stranger Things" fame.
We're a more cynical nation, at least from a cinematic perspective. In other ways, we're just as gullible, clinging to podcasters who spread conspiracy theories to naive fans.
Maybe the next "Faces of Death" reboot should tackle that subject. It's scarier than any horror movie, past or present.
