MOVIE REVIEW: FACES OF DEATH

 

A content moderator stumbles upon a series of violent videos that appear to re-enact death scenes from the infamous 1978 film "Faces of Death." In an online world where nothing can be trusted, she must determine whether the violence is fake or unfolding in real time.

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

Cast: Barbie Ferreira, Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Aaron Holliday, Jermaine Fowler, Charli XCX

Release Date: April 10, 2026

Genre: Horror

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, sexual content, nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime: 1h 46m

Review:

Reviving the infamous pseudo-documentary, Faces of Death, into a feature is a tall order but this meta-approach about the current algorithm driven culture creating a serial killer is more insightful than expected.  Writer/Director Daniel Goldhaber shows a healthy amount of confidence behind the camera as he sets up the general premise and concepts which offer up plenty of intriguing about the original documentary and how the world has changed since it caused such a stir.  There are plenty of tantalizing ideas thrown about in the first half of the film especially reflecting on how horrors in our “post truth” world is little more than content with the film reflecting its gaze back at the audience for watching it all.  It’s a fascinating approach which sadly starts to lose a bit of its shine in the second half of the film as Goldhaber continually beats you over the head with the message.  That latter half does start to feel more like a traditional serial killer film which is topped off with an appropriately gory finale.  There’s plenty of inspiration pulled from films like Silence of the Lambs and Michael Mann’s Manhunter for Dacre Montgomery’s serial killer who is using the original film as inspiration for his kills.  Montgomery goes full bore into the role with impressive gusto as he proves to be the most interesting performer on screen throughout.  Barbie Ferreira is solid as the content moderator that falls down a dangerous rabbit hole as she searches for the deranged killer.  Unfortunately, both characters are thinly written, which is a missed opportunity since both performers are begging for something meatier to bite into for their characters.  It’s not a fatal flaw but you are left feeling there was something more substantial that could have been explored.  Issues aside, Faces of Death proves to a pleasant surprise considering the random source material.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: BOB TREVINO LIKES IT

 

Lily Trevino unexpectedly befriends an online stranger, sharing her self-centered father's name. This new Bob Trevino's support could transform her life.

Director: Tracie Laymon

Cast: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Rachel Bay Jones, Lolo Spencer

Release Date: March 21, 2025 

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, and thematic elements.

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Tracie Laymon's feature length debut is equal parts funny and moving as it explores the ability of human connections to heal deep rooted familial trauma powered by a pair transformative performance from Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo.  Laymon's film is disarmingly easy going even as we are introduced to Lily's tattered life as she struggles to find her way in the world and connect with her self-centered, mean spirted father.  Her naturalistic approach is well suited for the deeply personal, semi-autobiographical story being told.  There's an air of authenticity and refreshing lack of cynicism throughout as we watch these characters search for meaningful connections in their lives.  Barbie Ferreira delivers a raw and honest turn as Lily who has suffered a series of traumas by the time we meet her.  She is desperate to please her cruel and spiteful father played with a razor's edge of animosity by French Stewart.  They only share a handful of scenes during the film, but each one is so bitingly effective as their exchanges move from cordial, playful to vicious.  Ferreira pours every ounce of emotion onscreen as her character suffers through these moments before finding an earnest connection in the form of an accidental father figure played with impressive nuance by John Leguizamo.  Leguizamo's role isn't as showy as Ferreira's but it’s just as impressive as his character is equally broken, just more capable of compartmentalizing his pain.  His earnest, well-meaning Bob is a good man who has poured himself his work while his wife, played by Rachel Bay Jones, loses herself in her scrapbooking hobby to cope with their shared loss.  Their accidental connection turns into something deeper and more meaningful as they each heal long festering wounds.  Ferreira and Leguizamo make for an engaging pair on screen as their surrogate father-daughter relationship blossoms into a real connection that will have you fully invested by the time the final act rolls around.  Bob Trevino Likes It proves to be an inspiring, heartfelt testament to the power of real connections even if they aren't bound by blood.  

A-