In one of the most unexpected announcements of late, we learned that the controversial 1978 video nasty Faces of Death would be “reimagined.” Now it appears the project is gaining serious momentum with the addition of a cast with notable star power and a date later this month to go before the cameras.
Heading the cast is Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery who rose to worldwide attention taking on the role of Billy Hargrove for the Netflix show. Montgomery is currently coming off of a supporting turn in the award winning biopic Elvis.
Joining Montgomery are two equally recognisable actors in Euphoria’s Barbie Ferreira and Josie Totah, known for the most recent incarnation of Saved by the Bell.
Produced by Legendary Pictures, exact details on Faces of Death are not currently known, but director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber had this to say when asked of his intentions for the project.
“Faces Of Death was one of the first viral video tapes, and we are so lucky to be able to use it as a jumping off point for this exploration of cycles of violence and the way they perpetuate themselves online.”
The 1978 original caused great controversy with its depiction of supposedly real death clips in a documentary format. Only after the film had been banned in several markets did word get out most of the film’s grotesque moments had been staged. However, Faces of Death remains controversial due to a few clips depicting real deaths via news footage, a trait that would continue to a greater extent in the copious amount of sequels.
How this framework will be incorporated into a feature film remains a mystery, but more details will undoubtedly surface as the project goes before cameras later this month. We will keep informed should any further developments arise.
