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 sel... more »ling 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« less
"When it was first released on vhs (1980ish?), it was a shocker. And utterly believable. Until this dvd came out (in my case, blu-ray), it was revealed that all the scenes were staged. And watching it was a chore. I only watched all of it just to get my "viewing dollars" worth. Can't wait to resell it try to recoup at least a couple of bucks back. Even on blu ray, video quality is at best a muddy blurry vhs. If you're looking for the real thing, stick to youtoob type sites, and the video clips that friends email to you. There is NOTHING for you here."
Faces of death
John Michel | 12/17/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I grew up watching faces of death and was very excited to see they had made a 30th anniversary edition, blu-ray at that. Once I started watching it I was disappointed. If you are interested in buying this atleast save alittle but of money and get the dvd version instead of blu-ray."
A True Horror Collectible
Brian Lueth | Chicago, IL United States | 09/10/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Gorgon's newest Hi-Def release of Faces of Death looks great, sounds terrific and still manages to thoroughly disturb but the true beauty of this release is the audio commentary by writer/director John Alan Schwartz (as Conan Le Cilaire), a featurette featuring interviews with FX creators Douglas J. White and Allan A. Apone and a featurette on the editing. Folks, this is the absolute best reason to purchase this disc, period. If you're a true fan of this series, this is one release you should positively add to your collection. The information given by Schwartz on this series is priceless and it sheds an incredible amount of light on the creation of the series as well as the urban legends and legal issues that plagued the productions.
If you haven't seen FOD and you're wondering whether it's a good film or not, well, that's subjective. I'm passionate about Mondo films so my opinion of this film may be far more generous than some might feel it deserves but in the end you'll just have to see it for yourself and make up your own mind; you'll love it, hate it or not give a diddle either way. The clips of slaughterhouses, dog fights, seal hunts, autopsies, mass murder, animal attacks and natural disasters are still just as troubling as they were in the early-eighties so prepare yourselves and your fellow viewers before just jumping in blindly; it's not for the faint of heart.
You either both love and own this or you don't, if you do love this film and you don't own this, grab two copies, one on DVD and the other on Blu-Ray. I was so happy to see this release and the awesome extras that I recall giggling when I got it in the mail. Yeah, giggling. Faces of Death is a childhood memory that I'll never forget and Gorgon, along with Red Shirt Pictures, have done a commendable job on this release, showing it the love and attention it deserves."
Just as bad as the original!!!!!!!
Edgar Betancourt | WI | 03/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is just as awful as the original but now it looks even more fake and dorky due to Bluray. I don't recommend this movie to anyone that hasn't seen it or that has no idea what its all about. However, to those that grew up with the stir that this "underground" video caused around the world knows exactly why it is impossible to resist adding this movie to your "classics" collection. A cult film at its best!!!!! As I pointed out Bluray does not improve in any way what is essentially a VCR camera production, it lays bare all the horrible filming and editing of this totally crappy production. This movie SUCKS but, THAT IS THE WHOLE IDEA :)"
Very nice release!
J. A Miller | Computer Chair | 08/19/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A film like FOD deserves to have a special release for it's 30th anniversary. I think this release will spark a lot of new comers to the film. Because of this, I think it is important to view this film completely within the context of when it was made. This hardly seems shocking in 2009 and we also now know much of it was faked. However, the way in which it was faked is pure genious. The way they were able to match film stocks, exposure and shooting style for each individual scene is really quite remarkable. Sure, you can tell now that some of the famous scenes are not real, but it is still hard to tell which shots are original and which are recreated within each individual scene.
The overall transfer is very good looking. It was also released on Blu-Ray but I really can't imagine that it looks so much better than this version. The special features are very nice. Special segments from the FX team and the editor are very interesting to watch. The audio commentary is also very good.
Anyway, nice treatment to such a classic and noteworthy film."