Rogue will face 'Death'

Focus genre label to remake cult horror pic

By DANA HARRIS, STEVEN ZEITCHIK

Focus genre label Rogue is developing "Faces of Death," a feature remake of the series of gory videotapes that became cult faves in the 1970s and '80s.

J.T. Petty is attached to direct.

It's unclear if Michael Carr will return as the aptly named Frances Gross -- who in the originals played the "Doctor" and narrated the deaths.

The first "Faces" tape came out in 1978; it wasn't immediately a mass hit but slowly caught on among young people.

The gonzo movies depicted the gruesome and varied ways people and animals can die via explicit footage that many viewers believed to be real, including a famous scene in which live monkey brains were served to diners at a restaurant.

Several movies followed, all continuing the theme and containing characters with credits such as "Leader of Flesh Eating Cult." John Alan Schwartz wrote and directed many of the pics, sometimes under pseudonyms.

Project had been in development by Angryfilms and producers Rick Benattar, Susan Montford and Don Murphy. Original "Faces" producer John Burrud will serve as exec producer.

Rogue declined to comment.

Producers aim to capitalize on the revitalized popularity of gory horror pics, as "The Grudge" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchises draw young audiences.

But filmmakers will face a more jaded horror audience that demands ever-higher levels of bloodiness.

Producers, however, hinted that the material would have requisite shock value. "In a world where you can see deaths everyday on the Internet, (fictional character Gross) is looking for a new challenge," Montford said.