Faces of Death (1978)

In a chilling exploration of the macabre, "Faces of Death" is an unnerving 'mockumentary' hosted by the seemingly unfazed coroner, Dr. Francis B. Gross. Charged with a morbid curiosity, Dr. Gross invites viewers into his world, a realm where the line between life and death is blurred and the human mortality is exposed in its most raw form. The film weaves together a tapestry of death, melding fabricated scenes of tragic demises with authentic footage of real-life catastrophes. It takes you on a journey into the heart of an unnamed Arab country, where the grim specter of decapitation hovers, and to an American electric chair, a testament to the finality of justice. One particularly unsettling scene transports viewers to Egypt, where unsuspecting tourists partake in the primitive act of consuming a monkey's brain, while the creature is horrifyingly still alive. The film further plunges into the abyss of the grotesque with glimpses of animals turning predator on humans, and the dark underbelly of Satanic rituals involving the deceased. The narrative then shifts to an unsuspecting alligator, which inadvertently wanders into 'residential' waters. A local warden's attempt to restore the creature to its natural habitat takes a fatal turn, turning the rescuer into a grisly feast for the reptile. As the film reaches its climax, it reveals newsreel footage filled with chilling instances of individuals leaping from buildings and devastating accidents. "Faces of Death" is a haunting descent into the various forms death takes, etching an unforgettable and disturbing image of mortality's relentless grip.

Faces of Death is a horror movie featuring Michael Carr and directed by John Alan Schwartz.

Faces of Death is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on VUDU Free.