Next week sees the release of the long-awaited remake of Faces of Death. The remake, starring Barbie Ferreira, centers around a moderator for a YouTube-like website that finds people online re-enacting death scenes from the original movie. It’s an interesting, meta take on the original. But, just in time for the remake comes news that Vinegar Syndrome is releasing an all-new 4K Blu-ray of the original movie, with it having an April 28th street date.
The original Faces of Death holds a unique place in pop culture. In the VHS generation, it was a popular, albeit taboo, rental, as it was thought that the film contained real footage of people dying. At my old video store, it was kept behind the counter and was basically something you had to ask for. Of course, now we know that the footage of people dying was faked, although there is real historical footage used throughout the film—but the really graphic stuff, such as a man being executed in the electric chair, isn’t real.
Even still, it was perhaps the most controversial movie of the early video era (save for Cannibal Holocaust—to which this seems tame in comparison), and it’s an important title for horror film fans.
The 4K Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome is absolutely stacked with extras—check them out:
- 2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray
- 4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
- Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm and 16mm original camera negative
- Commentary with director Conan Le Cilaire, moderated by Michael Felsher
- “Buried Footage” – newly discovered, never-before-seen outtakes
- “Choice Cuts” – an archival featurette with editor Glenn Turner
- “The Death Makers” – an archival featurette with effects creators Allan Apone and Douglas White
- “Many Faces of Death” – scholars and genre experts examine the controversial origins and lasting cultural impact of Faces of Death
- 40 page perfect bound book with essays by Samm Deighan, David Kerekes and Stephen Thrower
- Isolated music track
- Archival outtakes
- Trailer
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- English SDH subtitles
Will you be picking up Faces of Death when it hits 4K? Let us know in the comments – and check back next week for our take on the new movie.
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