The highly anticipated teaser trailer for a disturbing new horror film featuring pop sensation Charli XCX has been abruptly removed from YouTube after being deemed in violation of the platform's strict terms of service. The upcoming movie, titled Faces of Death, serves as a modern remake of the notoriously controversial 1978 cult classic that shocked audiences worldwide with its graphic depictions of death.
Trailer Pulled for Graphic Violence
According to reports from the prominent horror movie website Bloody Disgusting, the brief teaser was uploaded last week in preparation for the film's scheduled April 10 release date. However, within mere days, the promotional material was taken down from both YouTube and Facebook platforms. Official statements indicate the removal was directly due to violating YouTube's Terms of Service regarding violent or graphic content.
The now-banned trailer reportedly contained intensely disturbing scenes portraying various methods of death. Specific sequences described include one woman being horrifically run over by a train and another individual being violently dragged away by a wild bear. These graphic visuals proved too extreme for the social media platforms' content moderation policies.
Controversial Legacy of the Original Film
The original Faces of Death movie, released in 1978, presented itself as a documentary following a forensic pathologist who shows viewers supposedly real footage of people dying in gruesome circumstances. While the film did incorporate some authentic death footage, the majority of its most shocking scenes were later revealed to be cleverly staged simulations.
Despite this revelation, the movie's impact was profound. It featured deeply unsettling content including scenes of an African tribe butchering a cow and incorporated real wartime atrocity footage, including Holocaust material. The controversial nature of the film led to it being banned in numerous countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany shortly after its initial release.
From VHS Sensation to Modern Remake
Although receiving a theatrical release in 1978, Faces of Death truly gained notoriety throughout the 1980s as a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Audiences circulated VHS copies among themselves, often unaware that many of the depicted deaths were fabricated. This underground popularity has now inspired a contemporary remake with a modern twist on the disturbing concept.
The new version follows a female content moderator working for a YouTube-like platform, tasked with identifying and removing offensive and violent material while simultaneously grappling with her own traumatic personal history. Her routine work takes a terrifying turn when she discovers a group that appears to be recreating the murders from the original Faces of Death film, forcing her to investigate whether these new incidents represent genuine killings or merely elaborate reenactments.
Star-Studded Cast and Charli XCX's Career Pivot
Alongside pop icon Charli XCX, the remake features an impressive ensemble cast including Barbie Ferreira from the hit series Euphoria and Dacre Montgomery, known for his role in Stranger Things. This project marks a significant expansion of Charli XCX's creative endeavors beyond her established music career.
The 33-year-old artist recently achieved massive commercial success with her chart-topping album Brat, and has since been diversifying her professional portfolio. She recently appeared in the mockumentary film The Moment, which has enjoyed limited theatrical release, and is set to feature in Gregg Araki's upcoming erotic comedy I Want Your Sex. Additionally, Charli helmed the soundtrack for the recent film adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Navigating Newfound Fame and Public Scrutiny
In a recent Billboard interview, Charli XCX reflected thoughtfully on her transition from what she described as a relatively niche artist to mainstream popularity following Brat's success. She acknowledged the complexities of this shift, noting that while she has gained a substantial new audience, the connection varies significantly among listeners.
How much you're under scrutiny, in the spotlight, being listened to, watched, is a really interesting thing, she explained. It made me so acutely aware of how hard that transition can be. This increased visibility has also brought intensified public attention to her personal life and choices.
Recent Podcast Controversy
This heightened scrutiny manifested recently during an appearance on the popular SmartLess podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. During their conversation, the discussion turned to the topic of children, prompting Charli to reveal that she actually doesn't really want to have kids.
Bateman, 57, responded by sharing that his wife initially didn't want children either before changing her mind, suggesting to Charli that you might find somebody who could influence her perspective. The moment became awkward when Charli had to inform him that she is already married to The 1975 drummer George Daniel.
Listeners and social media commentators widely criticized this exchange, with many highlighting the ongoing societal pressure placed particularly on women regarding reproductive choices. One Reddit user expressed frustration, writing Why does society continue to pressure women, in particular, about having kids? The incident underscored the challenges public figures face when personal preferences become topics of public discussion.
As the controversy surrounding the trailer removal develops, anticipation continues to build for the Faces of Death remake's April release, promising to reintroduce one of horror cinema's most notorious concepts to a new generation of audiences.
