'Faces of Death' Is Surprisingly Insightful-Not So Surprisingly, Also Gruesome as Hell

Key Points:

• The 2026 film Faces of Death, released in April and now streaming on Shudder, serves as a modern exploration inspired by the 1978 cult classic of the same name, which is also available on the platform.
• Unlike the original, which blurred the lines between real and staged footage to shock viewers, the new Faces of Death centers on Margot, a content moderator for a TikTok-like platform who becomes obsessed with disturbing clips linked to a copycat killer mimicking the original film’s fake murders.
• The film critiques contemporary online culture, particularly the dark side of social media moderation and the pursuit of viral validation, while reflecting on how viewers process and question the authenticity of graphic content in the digital age.
• Directed by Daniel Goldhaber and co-written with Isa Mazzei, Faces of Death integrates themes from their previous work on the 2018 film Cam, emphasizing horror’s intersection with online identity and surveillance.
• A special watch party on July 17 will feature a double screening of both the 1978 and 2026 Faces of Death films, offering audiences a chance to compare the original’s taboo shock tactics with the new film’s commentary on modern digital horrors.