It’s impossible to recreate the myth surrounding the “Faces of Death” franchise.
It’s also good that we won’t fall for it again.
Those movies suggested we were watching actual murders, like a theatrically approved snuff film. Turns out that wasn’t the case, barring some stock footage snippets.
The new “Faces of Death” takes a meta approach to the phenomenon. It’s a sly way to tackle the subject, even if some will argue it’s a naked ploy to exploit an IP.
And they have a point. Still, the new film delivers standard horror movie treats while saying plenty about our social media age.
None of it is good, and most of the commentary is spot on.
Young Margot (Barbie Ferreira) works at a social media platform where she labels inappropriate videos. Some clips are gruesome, while others are overtly sexual.
The tags she applies to each is fascinating. It’s purely subjective, but a few videos begin to haunt her.
Are they elaborate pranks meant to look like ritualistic killings? Or could they be the real deal?
Margot’s backstory makes her job even more difficult. She was the “star” of an infamous viral video where her sister died during a selfie-fueled stunt. The fact that anyone would hire her for her current gig is one of many head scratchers stuffed into the plot.
That’s genre movie making, for ya!
Margot’s emotional health starts to decline as she investigates those suspicious videos. Meanwhile, the story broadens to follow the man behind those seriously demented takes.
“Faces of Death” doesn’t resemble the ‘70s era franchise in any tactile fashion. It’s not a faux documentary filled with found footage or recreated slaughters. It’s a conventional horror yarn that uses that franchise as its warped inspiration.
We won’t share more to keep the surprises intact, but just know it’s reasonably clever and likely the best path forward.
None of the above makes “Faces of Death” compelling, at least at first. It takes a while before we become invested in Margot’s mission. It helps that “Stranger Things” alum Dacre Montgomery plays a fiend with a predilection for the vintage “Faces of Death” series.
He’s mesmerizing, and his performance anchors the story’s ick factor. Fans of musician Charli xcx may squeal over her appearance in the film, but it’s not a role of any consequence.
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Director/co-writer Daniel Goldhaber has plenty to say about our digital age, from the depths of Reddit depravity to our indifference to suffering. It can be heavy-handed at times, but it’s threaded expertly into the narrative.
Anyone looking to be shocked, or even mildly outraged, by a “Faces of Death” affair will come away disappointed. This isn’t “Terrifier” country.
The most curious part of the film is its struggle to land a release date. The production wrapped in 2023, and horror has been white-hot for some time. That, plus the IP factor and the professional approach on display make the delay a head scratcher.
Goldhaber delivers a few unsettling visuals, no doubt, but his biggest accomplishment is making us take a good, long look at western culture and our role in it.
Now, that’s scary.
HiT or Miss: “Faces of Death” may be a bit too meta for its own good, but the film builds to a compelling showdown that doesn’t require us buying the franchise’s myth-making tics.