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Traces of Death (1993) (V)

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15 comments in total

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14 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
a gross out., 8 August 2002

Author: motown_23 (jewbo23@aol.com) from Norfolk, England

This is a bit of a hard one to review really. It's not a film as such and it's not really a documentary. It simply tries to gross out the viewer with scenes of real death, accidents, autopsies, operations and pictures. I had wanted to see this film for sometime after hearing it is the most extreme of all the mondo films. It didn't really shock me at all although I think this has more to do with my hard stomach than the film not being shocking. I found the film very interesting at times. Mainly the car accidents. But I really don't agree with the way the makers of this are making money from others misery. I have also read many reviews with people say they find Traces of Death funny. That I really don't like to hear. There is nothing funny about people being killed and seriously hurt. The film is very poorly edited together and terribly narrated. Overall I would say that although at times interesting it's just a gross out so if that appeals to you then watch it, if it doesn't then don't.

5/10

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Entertaining, in that so-freakin'-sick-you-just-have-to-keep-watching kind of way., 30 August 2001

Author: Matt Huls (cowman777@hotmail.com) from Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

Adequate compilation of grotesque archive footage, including actual scenes of murder, suicide, animal attacks, surgeries, autopsies, and (unfortunately) a whole lot more. This poorly edited and atrociously narrated tape is a real endurance test for anyone who's never seen this kind of imagery, and despite its many negative points, it certainly succeeds where FACES OF DEATH doesn't: it's all 100% real. This particular volume features former Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer blowing his brains out on live television, a male to female sex change operation, Pit Durnet being eaten by lions at a drive-thru safari in front of his shocked family, and among other things, a pig being burned alive with a blowtorch. Quality entertainment for the entire family!

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
You May Have Thought You Had A Strong Stomach, Until You Watched "Traces of Death" That Is!, 27 July 2006
Author: skin-and-bones from United States

As every other "shockumentary", "mondo death film" and the like out there "Traces of Death" also holds nothing back and pulls virtually no punches as we are treated to one revolting and sickening clip after another of people dieing and or being horribly injured in ways that no sane clear-thinking person could ever actually fathom! Amongst some of the worst and most vile clips in the film we see the on-air news footage of a disgruntled husband shooting his news reporter wife to death live on Spanish television, we also see a slow and unbelievably sadistic torture of a helpless and innocent pig that get's literally roasted to death via a blow torch by a group of scientists obviously doing what would be considered now (and even back then) illegal animal experimentation, another one consists of a really gross and totally uncensored male-to-female sex-change operation that goes above and beyond anything you might have otherwise seen on TLC's infamous surgery shows. The list of equally as nasty sights and sounds goes on and on from there I'm sorry to say. However, these were just some of the more noteworthy and severely stomach-churning things that viewers should be made aware of before watching as they are sure to horrify, if not psychologically scar you depending on the fragility of your mental state at the time of viewing. On a personal note here I watched this lurid and thoroughly disgusting exercise in the grotesque a number of years back right after seeing both "Death Scenes: Volume 1" and "Death Scenes: Volume 2". This and the two aforementioned films have a dark freak-show like allure to them that as ashamed as I am to admit it now was what initially peaked my curiosity and eventually drew me to actually picking them up from my local mom-'n-pop movie store. "Traces of Death", unlike the other two, incorporates only news footage and clips taken from around the world as opposed to the really old police file photos and such which made up the bulk of the others. This makes the film just that much more disturbing if you ask me because when you're looking at live and in motion footage and can see exactly what led up to that person's death, one has a tendency to want to play that terrible scene over and over in their head for days after; and for me it isn't always done intentionally, it's just that it get's in your head and doesn't want to leave until you are able to focus your thoughts on something more pleasant instead until it goes away...which is easier said than done I'm afraid! That is the type of damaging effect such films as this one can truly have on you, and if you find yourself doing the same thing as I just described after watching even one of these films I implore you: please avoid "Traces of Death" like you would the plague because ultimately all it will ever do is give you horrible nightmares and leave you thoroughly nauseated for days after viewing! (Turkey-Zero Stars)

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11 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Bottom of the barrel here, 19 May 2003

Author: Zbigniew_Krycsiwiki from United States

Without a doubt one of the most inept, atrocious, badly edited, microscopically budgeted movies you're ever going to find. "Death" or otherwise. The great majority of the movie is still photographs of murders, suicides, electrocutions, car crashes, blah blah blah blah blah ... and it's mostly SILENT FOOTAGE, so they've added in some canned background music and an idiotic narration to fill that particular void. If your idea of a good time is watching a silent video taped sex change operation, I guess this is for you then. (And by the way, to the producers, clever title there guys, what did it take you, maybe all of about four seconds to think of the title for this one?) "Faces of Death" and "Traces of Death" may have similar titles, but they're nothing at all like each other. "Faces of Death" at least had a documentary feel to it, some attempt at a sequence or progression from one scene to the next, not here though. Just one still photograph after another, another silent video after that, all edited together randomly, with that annoying hack hairball "Damon Fox" providing an obnoxious and grating narrative. That FRAUD- trying to pretend he's a big time movie producer, musician, alleging that he graduated high school when he was 12 years old, etc. What a pathetic little fraud he is.

1/2 a star out of ****

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
The most sickest film I have ever seen, 19 July 2000
Author: cheeseboy80

Traces of death is the most disgusting film in the world. All the deaths in this movie are 100% real. This movie is not for anyone who can't handle blood and gore. The nature of this movie is really graphic. This is not one of those Horror films with actors pretending to get killed. No, this movie is beyond that. It's real video footage of people getting killed. Watch this movie at your own risk.

I give this film 5 out of 10 (because it grossed me out sooo much)

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Sick & Nasty Junk, 10 January 2006

Author: Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre from Not Displayed

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is the most nastiest piece of junk I've ever seen. Forget Faces Of Death, this is all real and very graphic footage of well, let's see, Medical Operations, Accidents, Autopsys, plus pictures of suicides and police photographs. The shockementary is badly edited and is clearly meant to be exploitative and as sick as they, the producers, could get it. It's that badly edited in fact, that it just looks like a 2 VCR editing setup with a MIC attached. The commentator only rarely speaks, and when he does, his comments are gibberish and just to poke fun at the mayhem what unfolds. (During a scene of 'death' pictures) Comments include, " You will witness visions so incredibly graphic that your brain will surely comprehend the ghastly images it will receive!". Although, this footage is supposed to be 100% real, you won't know what the circumstances behind the scenes were, and therefore I found it boring and just vile. At least in Faces of Death, the commentator explains each scene so you know what has happened. Traces Of Death also includes the televised suicide of Bud Dywhite. This scene is replayed in different angles, replayed slowed down, and plainly just played till it would make you sick. If your after a rambling collection of death scenes this is your dream DVD!. However, if your after a serious documentary, then don't bother with this. I see its also banned in the UK, normally I think censorship is abhorrent, but in this case the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) should be given an award instead of the baseball bat!!!!. At this point I'd also like to point out this part does NOT have any death metal music. It's sick, vile, disturbing, and is strictly for adults over 18 what has a open mind, In my opinion, if you want a real shockumentary, Get Bumfights Presents: Terrorists, Killers & Middle East Wackos. Be warned, this is very graphic. I'll give Traces of Death a 3, because of it's pure exploitation!

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
good piece of s***, 29 March 2001
Author: (d.segura@teleline.es) from Barcelona

I prefer Faces of death, cause there's someone speaking to the audience telling every little detail about what you're watching, but this is definetly the goriest "mondo" bloody film that I've ever watched. There's two more parts and each one contain some boring footage (the one with the surgeries are terribly long, and without speaking) but it's worth seeing because of the other scenes, like explosions or real photos from the police. check it if you can stand it...

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
A true Mondo Film, 24 December 2002
Author: rattman_3 from NC

Wow theres not much that a user can say about this movie except maybe "Gross" or "wow" or "Shocking". But the movie is much more. A lot of people have badmouthed this film due to its violent content but that is just the point of the movie.

Although it doesnt live up to its image it is at times shocking and sickening. Its by far better than Faces of Death is. The narration is boring at times and it seems like the narrator is trying to gross people out and waste time instead of explaining the situations.

While it is more graphic than Faces of Death it does miss the storyline and the narrator explaining the things. There are several scenes that I found strange and would have liked to know some background on what I was seeing but it was not there.

Another low point in the film is the major hospital scenes. People under the knife and what not. This would have been truly shocking in the 80's / early 90's but now that we have shows like "Trama Life in the ER" scenes like this fall short of being shocking.

Overall the movie is well rounded in its style. Some times the movie does drag on but its much more entertaining than films like "Mondo Cane" and the like.

Overall I give this movie a 8 out of 10. While the film did keep me interested It fell short of being shocking. The prolonged warning at the beginning just made me hit the FF button.

***KEY POINT*** A key point to look for in this movie is towards the end they are "selling" body parts and other sick things.....its strange and without giving it away, just check it out for yourself. Its funny, strange, and shocking. I call it a reward for suffering through the whole entire movie. ***KEY POINT***

So overall I give this movie a 8/10. Its worth checking out if your a hardcore mondo fan...which I am not

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
very real, 13 February 1999

Author: nineinch from Canada

I have always thought that death films are like Faces Of Death...and I always think Faces Of Death is bad due to the fact it is 85% fake. But TRACES OF DEATH is 100% real and if you are at least squeamish or easily offended by actual scenes of human death, do not watch this film! But if you are like me, a pure reality death enthusiast, this film is for you! You will see actual suicides, actual autopsy, a sex change in very graphic detail, actual animal footage and much, much, more. So if you like death movies..this is the one to get!

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Pure Gore!, 18 September 1998
Author: Satan1 from New Town,North Dakota

One of the most goriest movies I've ever saw, not for people who can't handle blood! It's very interesting to see how people die, the highlight of the movie is when the pitbull attacks the animal control lady. Various scenes from traffic accidents, murder, and gang violence! Another highlight of the movie is when they show a sex change operation, the person goes from woman to man! All in all, a very good video if you want to gross somebody out!

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