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Faces of Death (2023) movie poster

Timeline

Faces of Death (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 7 mins · English
JustWatch #3,424 1
Directed by
Jan Soldat
Starring
Christopher Lee

Jan Soldat’s nerd‑geek short film stitches together every on‑screen death of iconic actor Christopher Lee, from his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars to Gremlins 2 and Hammer’s The Mummy. The rapid‑fire montage strings one demise after another, while uncovering amusing trivia and connections that go beyond merely charting Lee’s career trajectory.

Documentary Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Faces of Death (2023)

Where can you watch Faces of Death? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Shudder and Fandango at Home Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Faces of Death Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Faces of Death (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Opening vision and Gröss's mission

    After an unsuccessful open-heart surgery, pathologist Francis B. Gröss explains his fascination with the transitional periods of life and death, presenting his dream as a gateway to understanding them. He has gathered footage to study the 'faces of death' from multiple angles, including medical, psychological, and philosophical viewpoints. The scene sets up the documentary-style exploration that follows.

    Where
    Hospital / documentary setting

  2. Death in nature and animals

    Footage shows a violent encounter where an alligator kills a man, framed as retaliation by a creature scarred by human abuse. Gröss uses these images to contrast nature's indifference with human motives, calling attention to the brutality of life and death. The sequence broadens the scope from medicine to the raw brutality of the natural world.

    Where
    Nature / wildlife settings

  3. Human killings and the killer for hire

    The film presents a montage of assassinations and interviews, including François Jordan admitting he kills only for payment, not political goals. Gröss questions whether there can be thoughts or justifications behind such acts, challenging viewer assumptions about motive. The segment frames humans as capable of violence independent of ideology.

    Where
    Various locations (interviews)

  4. The killer's house and the SWAT raid

    A gunfight erupts between a SWAT team and an armed killer; tear gas drives him from his home, where his family is later found slaughtered. Gröss ponders whether society can be blamed for such acts and how context shapes violence. The sequence emphasizes the fragility of safety and the moral gray areas of crime.

    Where
    Killer's residence

  5. Execution and moral questions

    Larry DeSilva is executed by electric chair, a moment Gröss uses to question whether two wrongs can make a right in the cycle of punishment. He challenges the viewer to weigh justice against personal ethics. The montage links criminal justice with broader debates about meaning in death.

    Where
    Prison / execution chamber

  6. Coroner's office and embalming insights

    At the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Dr. Noguchi embalms multiple corpses after autopsies. Gröss asks about his own posthumous fate, and Noguchi responds that life is a transient state. The scene blends medical procedure with philosophical reflection on mortality.

    Where
    Los Angeles County coroner's office

  7. Cryonics and preservation

    The body of Samuel Berkowitz undergoes cryopreservation, fluids replaced with a low-freezing solution before storage. Gröss questions whether preserving the body alters our understanding of death's finality. The segment emphasizes society's desire to cheat time through science.

    Where
    Cryonics facility / freezer

  8. Suicide and the 'face of death never to be faced again'

    The tape shifts to suicide with footage of a woman leaping from a building; Gröss calls this a death he would rather not face again, separating it from quick, painless narratives. The reflections expand the catalog of death's forms and the viewer's emotional response. The film uses this moment to articulate fear and distance in facing mortality.

    Where
    Urban setting / rooftop

  9. War, Holocaust, and the fall of Nazism

    The segment travels through war footage, exposing atrocities of the Holocaust as German forces collapse under desperation. Gröss notes that Hitler lost control of both his army and his mind as symbols of tyranny are destroyed. The sequence frames death in mass violence and the consequences of totalitarianism.

    Where
    War front / Holocaust footage

  10. Environmental destruction and human misery

    Images of litter and pollution killing animals, alongside scenes of sick children in poor villages, broaden the critique to humanity's impact on nature and its vulnerable. Nature is shown through search parties, drownings, and a bear attack, while darker groups like a venomous snake cult and cannibalistic cadaver-eaters reveal depravity. The montage underscores the many 'faces of death' in everyday life.

    Where
    Various global locations

  11. Parachute failure and the PSF 182 aftermath

    Another tragic accident shows a parachute jump going wrong, with Gröss disputing that the death was quick and painless due to conscious awareness. The PSA Flight 182 disaster is then presented with photos, air-traffic audio, and wreckage, highlighting the raw aftermath of catastrophic failure. The scenes remind viewers of the lingering reality of death's aftermath.

    Where
    Urban / air disaster sites

  12. Supernatural inquiry and ghosts

    Gröss meets architect Joseph Binder, who believes his wife and son linger as ghosts; parapsychologists document footprints and two apparitions. Binder communicates with his deceased relatives through a medium, seemingly confirming life after death. The sequence anchors the supernatural as a possible component of death's continuum.

    Where
    Binder's house / parapsychology setup

  13. The soul as traveler and final reflection

    After studying Binder's case, Gröss states that the soul remains a traveler after death, challenging whether death is the end or the beginning. The footage is handed to the viewer for interpretation, ending the documentary on a contemplative note. The final montage shows a baby's birth and a mother with her child, underscoring hope and continuity.

    Where
    Ending montage

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:23

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Timeline questions answered

Faces of Death Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Faces of Death (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Who is Francis B. Gröss and what is his role in the documentary

Francis B. Gröss is a pathologist who serves as the documentary's narrator and guide through the various 'faces of death.' After an unsuccessful open-heart surgery, he explains his personal fascination with the transitional moments between life and death. His background as a surgeon has desensitized him to grisly scenes, allowing him to approach the topic from a clinical yet philosophical perspective.

  • pathologist
  • narrator
  • francis gross
  • surgeon
Q2

What is the documentary's message about death and the soul

Gröss concludes that 'when we die, it isn't the end' and believes the soul remains a traveler forever. He poses whether death marks 'the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end,' leaving viewers to form their own interpretation. The documentary ends with images of a newborn baby and a mother with her child, suggesting continuity and hope beyond mortality.

  • soul
  • afterlife
  • message
  • philosophy
  • hope
Q3

Why does the documentary include the supernatural investigation with ghosts

The supernatural section features architect Joseph Binder, who believes his wife and son linger as ghosts in his home. Parapsychologists document footprints and apparitions, and a medium connects Binder with his deceased relatives. This investigation explores whether forces beyond the physical realm influence death, supporting Gröss's conclusion that death may not be final.

  • ghosts
  • supernatural
  • binder
  • parapsychology
  • spirits
Q4

Why does the documentary show such graphic content and violent deaths

The documentary catalogs multiple 'faces of death' from various angles, medical, psychological, and philosophical, to explore how different types of deaths reveal different truths about mortality. From animal deaths to assassinations, executions, accidents, and atrocities, the graphic presentation is intentional, meant to challenge viewers to confront mortality directly rather than look away.

  • graphic content
  • violence
  • mortality
  • death catalog
Q5

What happens in the cryopreservation segment with Samuel Berkowitz

The segment shows Samuel Berkowitz undergoing cryopreservation, where bodily fluids are replaced with a low-freezing-point liquid for storage. Gröss questions whether preserving the body changes our understanding of death's finality, exploring society's desire to cheat time through science and whether this challenges traditional notions of mortality.

  • cryonics
  • cryopreservation
  • preservation
  • Samuel Berkowitz
Q6

Who is François Jordan and what does he say about killing

François Jordan is an assassin interviewed in the documentary who admits he kills strictly for payment, not for political or ideological reasons. He states that if a mission ever held real sentiment, he would refuse it with respect. This segment presents a disturbing view of violence as a cold, transactional act independent of ideology.

  • assassin
  • francois jordan
  • killer for hire
  • murder
Q7

What is shown in the PSA Flight 182 disaster sequence

The PSA Flight 182 sequence presents photographs, air-traffic control audio, and wreckage from the 1978 collision over San Diego. The neighborhood is described as smelling of 'rotting bodies and jet fuel,' and a mutilated torso-and-hand corpse is called 'the worst face of death.' Gröss uses this to show the raw aftermath of catastrophic accidental death.

  • psa flight 182
  • airplane crash
  • disaster
  • accident
Q8

What does Dr. Thomas Noguchi say about life and death at the coroner's office

At the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Dr. Thomas Noguchi embalms multiple corpses after autopsies, including a bloated drowned woman and a decapitated man. When Gröss asks about his own posthumous fate, Noguchi responds that 'life is purely a transitory state,' reinforcing the documentary's theme of death as a natural transition rather than an end.

  • thomas noguchi
  • coroner
  • embalming
  • transitory state
Q9

Why does the documentary include the suicide scene

The documentary shifts to suicide with footage of a woman leaping from a building. Gröss calls this 'a face of death he wishes never to face again,' separating it from narratives of quick, painless death. This segment expands the catalog of death's forms and explores the emotional response to mortality, particularly fear and the desire to avoid such an end.

  • suicide
  • death
  • rooftop
  • jumping
Q10

What is the connection between environmental destruction and death in the documentary

The documentary shows animals harmed by litter and pollution, alongside scenes of sick children in impoverished regions. It includes a bear attack on irresponsible campers and a search party retrieving a body from a cave. These segments broaden the critique to humanity's impact on nature and how environmental destruction creates additional 'faces of death' in everyday life.

  • environment
  • pollution
  • animals
  • nature
  • death
Q11

What does Gröss mean when he says Hitler 'lost control of his mind'

During the Holocaust segment, Gröss muses on the mind of a leader who lost control, stating Hitler 'lost control not only of his army but of his mind.' This frames Hitler's actions as both a military defeat and a psychological collapse, connecting the atrocities of mass violence to the broader theme of mental and moral disintegration.

  • hitler
  • holocaust
  • nazism
  • world war 2
  • atrocities
Q12

Why does the documentary end with images of a newborn baby

The documentary closes with soft music accompanying images of a newborn baby and a mother with her child, creating a symbolic loop from death back to birth. This contrasts with the heavy emotional weight of the preceding content and reinforces the hopeful, peaceful philosophy about the soul's continuity, that death may be a transition rather than an ending.

Foreshadowing: The ending echoes Gröss's earlier statement that life is a 'transitory state' and connects to his belief that the soul remains a 'traveler forever.'

  • baby
  • birth
  • hope
  • continuity
  • new life

Movie threads

More Movies Like Faces of Death, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Faces of Death tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Clinical examinations of the macabre like in Faces of Death

Detached and analytical explorations of death, violence, and the unsettling corners of existence. For viewers who appreciated the detached, analytical style of Faces of Death. This list features movies like documentaries, dramas, and thrillers that explore death, violence, or disturbing topics with a clinical lens, offering a thought-provoking and eerie experience similar to Faces of Death.

  • unsettling
  • clinical
  • eerie
  • thought-provoking
  • grim
  • contemplative
  • Tone: dark, clinical, contemplative
  • Pacing: variable, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are structured around observation and analysis rather than traditional plot. They often unfold as a compilation, a case study, or a procedural investigation into a dark theme, guiding the audience through a sequence of evidence or examples to arrive at a broader philosophical conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared tone of clinical detachment and their focus on unsettling subject matter. They prioritize a thought-provoking, almost academic mood over conventional emotional engagement, creating a unique and intellectually heavy viewing experience.

Faces of Death movie poster

Faces of Death

1978
Faces of Death movie poster

Faces of Death

2023
Autopsy movie poster

Autopsy

1975
Doctor Blood’s Coffin movie poster

Doctor Blood’s Coffin

1961
Macabre movie poster

Macabre

1980
Macabre movie poster

Macabre

1958
The Mortuary Collection movie poster

The Mortuary Collection

2020
Pathology movie poster

Pathology

2008

Movies with a heavy journey to a hopeful end like Faces of Death

Stories that traverse through intense darkness to arrive at a surprisingly light or philosophical resolution. If you liked how Faces of Death moved from graphic content to a hopeful ending, explore these similar movies. This list features stories that start with heavy emotional weight, darkness, or intense themes but conclude with a bittersweet, happy, or philosophically hopeful resolution, much like Faces of Death.

  • grim
  • heavy
  • cathartic
  • hopeful
  • thought-provoking
  • melancholic
  • Tone: dark, heavy, ultimately hopeful
  • Pacing: variable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a sustained period of high-intensity conflict, suffering, or exploration of a bleak theme, which creates a heavy emotional weight. The story then undergoes a significant tonal shift in its final act, introducing a new perspective, resolution, or philosophical insight that re-contextualizes the darkness and ends on a note of hope or acceptance.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a specific emotional arc: they are not purely bleak. They earn their hopeful endings by first confronting the viewer with difficult content, making the final transition to light or peace feel particularly meaningful and cathartic.

The Sky Is Falling movie poster

The Sky Is Falling

2000
The Mountain Within Me movie poster

The Mountain Within Me

2024
Hope movie poster

Hope

2013
Encounter Point movie poster

Encounter Point

2006
The 5th Quarter movie poster

The 5th Quarter

2010
According to Greta movie poster

According to Greta

2009
Colorful movie poster

Colorful

2010
Wristcutters: A Love Story movie poster

Wristcutters: A Love Story

2007

Every angle

Faces of Death (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Faces of Death in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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