Faces of Death

Faces of Death is a 1978 controversial shockumentary, directed by John Alan Schwartz and starring Michael Carr, Samuel Berkowitz, and Mary Ellen Brighton. The film, which sparked intense debate upon its release, is an infamous compilation of footage showcasing the diverse ways people and animals meet their end. Implicit in its premise is the aim to scratch the morbid curiosity that underscores humanity's fascination with death.

Michael Carr takes center stage in this uncomfortable journey as the grim narrator Dr. Francis B. Groff, a pathologist who supposedly worked for the "World Health Organization." The production relies heavily on his chilling yet impassive narration, which dovetails the graphic visuals with entirely new depths of morbidity. Alongside Carr, the non-actor cast, including Samuel Berkowitz and Mary Ellen Brighton, deal with death's various faces with a realism that contributes to the film's haunting feeling.

The entire documentary-style movie runs like a macabre circus of death, unraveling one horrific scene after another. These scenarios – which range from accidents, suicide, murder, war footage, and execution to animal cruelty – were filmed across the world, supposedly unscripted, further intensifying the raw display of death in all its cruel, indiscriminate randomness. Faces of Death's sequences are deliberately gruesome, intended to shock viewers and compel them to look away, yet enticing them with a grotesque curiosity that is hard to ignore.

Critics and audiences alike often question the authenticity of the events portrayed in Faces of Death. The director later admitted that a significant portion of scenes were staged, using special effects and actors. Despite this revelation, the film's reputation as one of the most vile and provocative documentaries ever produced remains intact. The film uses different techniques to give sequences an air of reality – handheld camcorder footage, stock clips, and newsreel snippets – creating an unmistakable atmosphere of pervasive gloom and eeriness.

While it may seem that Faces of Death revels in its display of shock and brutality, it was said to be a reflection on death and mortality. The movie ruminates on societal taboos and provokes thought about humans' fascination and fear of death. The director's narrative does not necessarily glorify death, instead fills viewers with dread, and induces morose reflections on life's fragility and the inescapable fate that awaits us all – our mortality.

Faces of Death's director and producer don't shy away from using graphic visuals to instigate these reflections. While this method has attracted criticism for allegedly fanning desensitization towards violent deaths and brutality, some viewers argue that it invites valuable conversations on the nature of death, its inevitability, and our collective fear and curiosity about it.

The cinematography, despite its morbid focus, is effectively balanced. The grainy visuals add an element of realism to the movie, arguably heightening its impact on the audience. The overwhelming eeriness is complemented by an unsettling, haunting score that recurs throughout the sequences, tying the whole movie together into a seamless narrative of death's various faces.

Faces of Death pushes the boundaries, and perhaps even crosses the line of what is traditionally acceptable in film. However, it is this very boldness that sparked conversations, piqued global interest, and established the film as a cult classic in its genre, paving the way for the production of several sequels and a series of 'copycat' movies.

In summary, Faces of Death is not a movie for the faint-hearted or the squeamish. It is intended for anyone ready to confront unresolved feelings about death. Its graphic and raw portrayal of death, combined with the chilling voice-over of Michael Carr, makes it a movie that is likely to stick with viewers for better or for worse. The movie is a shocking exploration of death and a stark reminder of life's fragility – and it is this harsh, relatable truth that makes it one of the most infamous movies of its time.