SuperHeroBooks - The Original Faces of Death: 30th Anniversary Edition
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List Price: $24.98
Our Price: $16.85
Your Save: $ 8.13 ( 33% )
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Manufacturer: GORGON VIDEO
Starring: Frances B. Gross
Directed By: Conan Lecilaire
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: MPI
EAN: 0742107221093
Format: Anamorphic
Label: GORGON VIDEO
Manufacturer: GORGON VIDEO
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: GORGON VIDEO
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-10-07
Running Time: 105
Studio: GORGON VIDEO
Theatrical Release Date: 1978
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Faces of Death
Comment: If you're like me, you've been hearing about the mysterious Faces of Death - a film supposedly banned in 43 countries, a film so depraved and disgusting that one could barely stand to finish it. The following comments are my reactions to the film as a fan of exploitation cinema, and cultural extremes in general.
Faces of Death has quite a reputation, but it seems that very few people have actually seen it. Needless to say, there's no way the film will live up to its own hype. The narration is predictable, all the scenes involving human death are faked, and the final twenty minutes are basically newsreel footage, which we've all seen elsewhere. The film runs around 105 minutes, which is way too long for something of this nature. If the film was cut to 68-80 minutes, as most exploitation films are, all we would lose is some bland narration and a lot of World War 2 footage.
However, the film is now a cultural artifact and it's most definitely worth seeing, provided you're a fan of horror movies, exploitation films, or bizarre fringe relics. Even though it isn't really a strong film itself, its influence makes it worth viewing. I image that your viewing experience will greatly effect your reaction to the film. If you're in high school and you're sneaking this movie into a slumber party, I'm sure it's amazing. It's not that I expect a film like this to be high quality - that would be silly. I just want to help prospective viewers manage their expectations.
The only real death you see is in the beginning where we see all sorts of animals slaughtered. It's not as bad as it sounds though. The animals weren't killed for the film, but rather as part of the routine slaughtering that happens everyday. I realize that this doesn't make much difference to some people, but at least the killing was nothing out of the ordinary.
On the positive side, I'm sure the film has never looked better. The original footage that makes up the majority of the film is about as clean and clear as one can expect with a cheap film like this. The audio is not great, but I'm sure the original recordings weren't great either. I have to wonder if the video quality colored my experience. I can imagine watching it on a third-generation dubbed VHS tape with severely degraded pictures giving the film a gritty realism - a realism that hides its obviously staged footage.
There are some interesting bonus features, which probably justify purchasing the 30th Anniversary Edition. The commentary track is moderately interesting, as is the featurette with the FX team - the team that managed to fool hundreds of thousands of teens over the last 30 years. There are some outtakes and deleted scenes that are similarly decent. Again though, I have to wonder if all this exposure will ruin the mystique. Once we can go buy the DVD at Best Buy, it's no longer an obscure item of obscene curiosity. Are the horrors less scary with the lights on, so to speak?
Customer Rating:
Summary: 30 years later, Death has return.............
Comment: Here's a true shockumentuary. Its been 30 years, and this film is still strong. Faces of death is the first film that shows real death. Yeah I know that some scenes are fake. But still this movie inspired alot of hardcore movie goers. FOD was one of the first death films in theaters nationwide. I remeber rented FOD at the video store years back. Some scenes were pretty gross. But still I'm glad to see a special edition being release. Finally this movie is getting the respest it deserves. Love the new cover.
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Editorial Reviews:
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The Original Shockumentary Is Back With a 30th Anniversary Edition DVD
It began as a graphic exploration of the one destiny we cannot escape. It would soon become the most controversial, critically reviled and fastest selling documentary in home video history. Parents tried to stop it. Video stores had to hide it. Yet across the nation, millions found ways to secretly watch it...if they dared. Renowned pathologist Dr. Frances B. Gröss is your guide to the most bizarre and grisly death scenes ever recorded, from executions, assassinations and mass murder to suicide, disease and disasters. Three decades later, is it hardcore gross-out, elaborate hoax or still the ultimate forbidden movie? One thing is certain: you will never forget the original FACES OF DEATH!
New HD transfer from extremely rare vault materials.
Includes never-before-seen bonus features that will lift the veil on the most discussed/debated documentary in history.
BONUS FEATURES:
5.1 Audio/2.0 Stereo
Feature-length commentary with director Conan Le Cilaire, who has never before publicly discussed FACES OF DEATH
Choice Cuts with Editor Glenn Gurner Featurette
The Death Makers with Special Make-Up FX Creators Allan A. Apone and Douglas J. White Featurette
Includes trailers, outtakes, and deleted scenes
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