Faces of Death (1978)
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The story
Presented as an actual documentary, the film follows pathologist Francis B. Gröss as he explores the transition between life and death. Having become desensitized to the macabre through his professional work, Gröss compiles a variety of footage to examine the different 'faces of death.' The film presents a series of segments including real and staged footage of various fatalities, ranging from animal attacks and human crimes to historical atrocities and medical procedures. The narrative serves as a clinical, analytical exploration of mortality, intended to provide a broader perspective on the ways in which life ends.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After performing an autopsy, pathologist Francis B. Gröss explains his interest in the transition between life and death, driven by recurring dreams and his professional desensitization to gore. He presents a compilation of footage showcasing various deaths: a man killed by an alligator, a series of assassinations, and a violent police standoff involving a murderer. The film moves into medical settings where a coroner embarks on the process of embalming, followed by a segment on cryopreservation. The narrative then shifts to historical atrocities, including the Holocaust, and the impact of environmental pollution. It explores 'the more horrific nature of man' through segments on a snake cult and a cannibalistic cult. The film concludes with a look at supernatural forces, where Gröss consults with a man who believes his family's spirits remain in his home. After a parapsychologist investigation, Gröss concludes that the soul is a traveler that remains after death, ending the film with peaceful music and images of a newborn baby.
- First release year
- 1978
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Alan Schwartz
- Writers
- John Alan Schwartz · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michael Carr · Francis B. Gröss; Samuel Berkowitz · Victim (uncredited); Mary Ellen Brighton · Suicide Victim (uncredited); Thomas Noguchi · Chief Medical Examiner Coroner (uncredited); John Alan Schwartz · Cult Leader (uncredited); Vern Stierman · Narrator (uncredited)
- Genres
- horror; mendo; documentary; exploitation
- Themes
- mortality; desensitization; supernatural; human nature
- Tone and mood
- clinical; eerie; shocking
- Setting
- Various locations including a medical facility, a coroner's office, and historical sites.
- Premise and plot tags
- mockumentary; compilation; gore
- Content notes
- animal cruelty
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics but was a success at the box office, becoming a cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 23% · scale: percentage · review count: 13
- Production trivia
- Approximately 60% of the film used real footage from news stations and medical researchers.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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