Faces of Death (1978) vs. Faces of Death (2026): The True Story Behind the Most Notorious Shock Film Ever Made

The Fear Archive investigates Faces of Death — the 1978 shock documentary that was not quite a documentary, not quite fiction, and was deliberately designed to keep you from knowing the difference — and the 2026 remake that asks the harder question: why are you still watching? Faces of Death was released in 1978, directed by John Alan Schwartz under the pseudonym Conan LeCilaire. It presented itself as a documentary about death across cultures. In reality it was a carefully engineered hybrid: some footage real, some staged, all of it designed to manufacture one question — is this real? As long as you were asking, you kept watching. That was the entire mechanism. The 2026 remake, directed by Daniel Goldhaber and Isam Mazhi and starring Barbie Ferreira and Charli XCX, does not try to shock you with death. It makes you watch yourself watching. Which, as Amanda and Mike argue tonight, is the more disturbing film. Hosted by Amanda Kagiwada and Michael Ryan Assip. Executive produced by Cassie Jozefov. A Violet Hour Media production. LISTENER WARNING: This program includes discussion of real-world violence and other subject matter that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please proceed with caution. Popular Topics Include: Faces of Death 1978, Faces of Death 2026, John Alan Schwartz, Mondo films, shock cinema, black humor, morbid curiosity, snuff mythology, Barbie Ferreira, Charli XCX, Daniel Goldhaber, LiveLeak, rotten.com, true crime horror podcast, Fear Archive, horror podcast, Violet Hour Media, why do we look Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices