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* The 1980 [[Iranian Embassy siege]]
* The 1980 [[Iranian Embassy siege]]
* The 1989 suicide attempt of [[Suicide of Terry Rossland|Terry Rossland]]
* The 1989 suicide attempt of [[Suicide of Terry Rossland|Terry Rossland]]
* The 1984 race car accident of [[Ricky Rudd]]
* The 1984 [[race car]] accident of [[Ricky Rudd]]
* The 1992 accident of the monster truck Bad Medicine{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* The 1992 accident of the [[monster truck]] Bad Medicine{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* The 1967 Caesar Palace jump stunt accident of [[Evel Knievel]]
* The 1967 Caesar Palace jump stunt accident of [[Evel Knievel]]
* The 1990 [[Dinamo–Red Star riot]]
* The 1990 [[Dinamo–Red Star riot]]
Line 69: Line 69:
* Iranian soldiers slaughtered by the Iraqi Regime during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]
* Iranian soldiers slaughtered by the Iraqi Regime during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]
* The 1981 [[assassination of Anwar Sadat]]
* The 1981 [[assassination of Anwar Sadat]]
* Boston bomb expert Randolph G. LaMattina blasted in the face by a pipe bomb following its removal in 1985
* Boston bomb expert Randolph G. LaMattina blasted in the face by a [[pipe bomb]] following its removal in 1985
* A robber blowing himself up after holding up a bank and being cornered by police at gunpoint in [[León, Spain]] in 1983
* A robber [[Suicide Bomb|blowing himself up]] after holding up a bank and being cornered by police at gunpoint in [[León, Spain]] in 1983
* A 1984 fire in a Brazilian apartment building, which led to four women falling to their deaths
* A 1984 fire in a Brazilian apartment building, which led to four women falling to their deaths
* The 1974 [[Joelma fire]]
* The 1974 [[Joelma fire]]
* Animal attacks such as a rodeo horse stomping its rider's face and goring from [[running of the bulls]]
* Animal attacks such as a [[rodeo]] horse stomping its rider's face and goring from [[running of the bulls]]
* The 1963 self-immolation of Vietnamese monk [[Thích Quảng Đức]]
* The 1963 self-immolation of Vietnamese monk [[Thích Quảng Đức]]
* [[Nelson Piquet]] fighting with [[Eliseo Salazar]] after a collision during the [[1982 German Grand Prix]]
* [[Nelson Piquet]] fighting with [[Eliseo Salazar]] after a collision during the [[1982 German Grand Prix]]
* [[Football hooliganism]] in Germany in 1988
* [[Football hooliganism]] in Germany in 1988
* The 1985 [[Heysel Stadium disaster]]
* The 1985 [[Heysel Stadium disaster]]
* A courtroom outburst in Mobile, Alabama, in 1992
* A courtroom outburst in [[Mobile, Alabama]], in 1992
* Riots in Seoul, South Korea in 1987
* Riots in [[Seoul, South Korea]] in 1987
* The death of [[Karl Wallenda]]
* The death of [[Karl Wallenda]]
* The 1984 shooting of Jeff Doucet by [[Gary Plauché]]
* The 1984 shooting of Jeff Doucet by [[Gary Plauché]]
Line 86: Line 86:
* The execution of [[Ishola Oyenusi]]
* The execution of [[Ishola Oyenusi]]
* The [[murder of Mark Kilroy]]
* The [[murder of Mark Kilroy]]
* A deadly airshow crash in San Diego in 1978
* A deadly [[airshow]] crash in San Diego in 1978
* A [[Blue Angels]] air show crash in 1985
* A [[Blue Angels]] air show crash in 1985
* The [[Controlled Impact Demonstration]]
* The [[Controlled Impact Demonstration]]
Line 102: Line 102:
* The first [[Markale Massacres|Markale Massacre]] in 1994
* The first [[Markale Massacres|Markale Massacre]] in 1994
* Killings of children during the [[Algerian Civil War]]
* Killings of children during the [[Algerian Civil War]]
* Necklacing in South Africa
* [[Necklacing]] in South Africa
* Villager killings during the 1984 elections in El Salvador
* Villager killings during the 1984 elections in [[El Salvador]]
* [[El Cordobés]] during his career in the bullring
* [[El Cordobés]] during his career in the bullring
* The [[Sabra and Shatila Massacre]]
* The [[Sabra and Shatila Massacre]]
Line 109: Line 109:
* A 1988 crash involving the monster truck Wild Stang, which was one of the first monster truck crashes to be captured on film
* A 1988 crash involving the monster truck Wild Stang, which was one of the first monster truck crashes to be captured on film
* Rare scenes of body parts from victims of the [[Cambodian genocide]] and [[Burundian Genocide]] in 1972
* Rare scenes of body parts from victims of the [[Cambodian genocide]] and [[Burundian Genocide]] in 1972
* The assassination of a Haitian lawyer in 1994
* The assassination of a [[Haiti|Haitian]] lawyer in 1994
* The 1994 assassination of [[Luis Donaldo Colosio]]
* The 1994 assassination of [[Luis Donaldo Colosio]]
* Discoveries of skeletal remains in the [[Killing Fields]] in Cambodia
* Discoveries of skeletal remains in the [[Killing Fields]] in Cambodia
Line 115: Line 115:
The third edition starts with crime scenes in urban American cities such as New York City, ranging from murders to traffic accidents. These pieces look as if taken from the '60s and '70s.
The third edition starts with crime scenes in urban American cities such as New York City, ranging from murders to traffic accidents. These pieces look as if taken from the '60s and '70s.


This volume also shows what it is like to survive an attack, as in a 1991 press conference of Frank Tempest, an English man disfigured in the face when he was attacked by two pit bulls.
This volume also shows what it is like to survive an attack, as in a 1991 press conference of Frank Tempest, an English man disfigured in the face when he was attacked by two [[pit bull]]s.


Also included is graphic content of gang violence in Russia, various motocross and amateur race car accidents, and a cockfighting was to be held in the Philippines.
Also included is graphic content of gang violence in [[Russia]], various [[motocross]] and amateur race car accidents, and [[cockfighting]] held in the [[Philippines]].


=== ''Traces of Death IV'' (1996) ===
=== ''Traces of Death IV'' (1996) ===
Line 123: Line 123:
* The 1992 Agdam Massacre, which was a massacre of Azerbaijanian civilians by Armenian militants during the [[First Nagorno-Karabakh War]].
* The 1992 Agdam Massacre, which was a massacre of Azerbaijanian civilians by Armenian militants during the [[First Nagorno-Karabakh War]].
* Executions of Kurdish civilians during the [[Anfal Genocide]]
* Executions of Kurdish civilians during the [[Anfal Genocide]]
* A terrorist attack on a yacht perpetrated by the [[PLO]] in Cyprus in 1985.
* A terrorist attack on a yacht perpetrated by the [[PLO]] in [[Cyprus]] in 1985.
* The [[Amiriyah shelter bombing]]
* The [[Amiriyah shelter bombing]]
* The 1968 execution Of [[Nguyễn Văn Lém]]
* The 1968 execution Of [[Nguyễn Văn Lém]]
* Riots in Seoul, South Korea in 1994 and 1987.
* Riots in Seoul, South Korea in 1994 and 1987.
* Riots in Moscow, Russia, in 1993
* Riots in [[Moscow, Russia]], in 1993
* Bosnian soldiers caught in sniper crossfire during the [[Bosnian War]]
* Bosnian soldiers caught in [[sniper]] crossfire during the [[Bosnian War]]
* The 1984 [[Kent and Dollar Farm massacres]]
* The 1984 [[Kent and Dollar Farm massacres]]
* A 1986 stabbing attack in East Jerusalem, where a Palestinian terrorist is shot in the head by Israeli soldiers after they witnessed him stab a Jewish resident to death in the town square.
* A 1986 stabbing attack in [[East Jerusalem]], where a [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] terrorist is shot in the head by [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers after they witnessed him stab a [[Jews|Jewish]] resident to death in the town square.
* A mortar attack in Bosnia that killed six people waiting for water in 1993.
* A [[mortar]] attack in Bosnia that killed six people waiting for water in 1993.
* A mortar attack in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) that killed 16 civilians in line for water and bread on May 27, 1992.
* A mortar attack in [[Belgrade]], [[Yugoslavia]] (now [[Serbia]]) that killed 16 civilians in line for water and bread on May 27, 1992.
* Villager killings during the 1984 elections in El Salvador
* Villager killings during the 1984 elections in El Salvador


Another piece of notable footage in the fourth volume is a moose killing a man in Anchorage, Alaska on January 9, 1995.
Another piece of notable footage in the fourth volume is a [[moose]] killing a man in [[Anchorage, Alaska]] on January 9, 1995.


Towards the start of the film graphic photographs of birth aberrations are shown.
Towards the start of the film graphic photographs of [[Birth defect|birth aberrations]] are shown.


There is also footage of traffic accidents from the graphic driving education film, ''[[Signal 30]]''.
There is also footage of traffic accidents from the graphic driving education film, ''[[Signal 30]]''.
Line 146: Line 146:
* The 1992 [[attack on Reginald Denny]]
* The 1992 [[attack on Reginald Denny]]
* The 1990 [[Poll Tax Riots]]
* The 1990 [[Poll Tax Riots]]
* The [[1990 Temple Mount riots]] in Al Aqsa, Jerusalem, Israel
* The [[1990 Temple Mount riots]] in [[Al Aqsa]], Jerusalem, Israel
* South Korean student slashing with riot police
* South Korean student slashing with [[riot police]]
* The 1998 suicide of [[Daniel V. Jones]]
* The 1998 suicide of [[Daniel V. Jones]]
* HIW [[backyard wrestling]]
* HIW [[backyard wrestling]]

Revision as of 03:01, 21 November 2021

Traces of Death
VHS cover
Written byDamon Fox
Based onFaces of Death
Narrated byDamon Fox
Edited by
  • Studio D
  • Dennis Deroche
Music bySubtempeco Muzik
Production
companies
  • Dead Alive Productions
  • Foxx Entertainment Enterprises
Distributed byBrain Damage Films
Release date
April 20, 1993
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Traces of Death is a 1993 Z movie mondo shockumentary that consists of various scenes of stock footage depicting death and real scenes of violence.

Unlike the earlier Faces of Death which included fake deaths and reenactments, Traces consists mostly of actual footage depicting death and injury, and consists also of public domain footage from other films. It was written and narrated by Damon Fox.

Since its release, Traces of Death has been followed by four sequels. The first sequel, Traces of Death II, was released in June 1994. This was followed by Traces of Death III in December 1994, Traces of Death IV: Resurrected in 1996 and Traces of Death V: Back in Action in April 2000.

Film content

In the first two films of the series, Damon Fox was the narrator. Darrin Ramage, who would later become the founder of Brain Damage Films, would become the host for the third, fourth and fifth volumes. Unlike Faces of Death, the footage throughout the entire films are real and are not staged or reenacted. Starting with Traces of Death II, scenes were accompanied by background music from death metal and grindcore bands.

Also contained in the series, especially in the first one, is footage of step-by-step autopsy procedures, which are shown from a coroner's point of view. Most of the other footage is recognizably notable. Among the footage samples seen on Traces of Death and in the sequels that followed are listed below.

Traces of Death (1993)

The first film of the series also contains allegedly staged footage from Savage Man Savage Beast, where a tourist, Pit Dernitz supposedly gets mauled and eaten by African lions.

Other scenes that feature animals include undated footage of a pig experiment by military scientists at the Burn Center in Fort Sam Houston (derived from a 1987 mondo film entitled True Gore), an animal control officer, Florence Crowell being attacked by a pit bull in Los Angeles, California in 1987, and a black bear getting shocked off a utility pole in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1989.

The first two films both contain scenes of sex reassignment surgery, which is featured in the 1974 mondo film Shocking Asia. Some autopsy footages were taken from the 1961 U.S. Army training film Basic Autopsy Procedure.

Also included is an interview with James Vance, who had attempted suicide with a shotgun at a church playground in Sparks, Nevada (taken from the documentary Dream Deceivers).

The only known footage showing evidence of Ilse Koch is included as well.

Traces of Death II (1994)

There is one unusual piece of footage taken at a monster truck show in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 23, 1992. What makes this footage so unusual is that the robot transformer at the show malfunctioned. A large rod from the malfunctioning robot went into the actor of the alien suit's chest, and exploded.

Another notable air show crash in the film took place in Plainview, Texas, on September 11, 1983, where the pilot lost both his plane's wings in mid-air and plummeted into the field below. There are many other various plane crashes and race car crashes during the middle and towards the end of the film.

Traces of Death III (1994)

The third edition starts with crime scenes in urban American cities such as New York City, ranging from murders to traffic accidents. These pieces look as if taken from the '60s and '70s.

This volume also shows what it is like to survive an attack, as in a 1991 press conference of Frank Tempest, an English man disfigured in the face when he was attacked by two pit bulls.

Also included is graphic content of gang violence in Russia, various motocross and amateur race car accidents, and cockfighting held in the Philippines.

Traces of Death IV (1996)

Another piece of notable footage in the fourth volume is a moose killing a man in Anchorage, Alaska on January 9, 1995.

Towards the start of the film graphic photographs of birth aberrations are shown.

There is also footage of traffic accidents from the graphic driving education film, Signal 30.

Traces of Death V (2000)

The last volume starts with three police chases. The first was in Los Angeles in June 1996. The second was also in Los Angeles, but it took place in June 1995. The third took place in Whittier, California in September 1995. All were televised live by helicopter pilot Bob Tur.

Soundtrack

The music clearance were provided by Subtempeco Muzik (pseudonymously credited as T.O.D.), which derived from various film soundtracks.[1] Later in Traces of Death 3, the first soundtrack album was released on CD.

Home media

In 2003, a box set of the entire series was released on DVD by Brain Damage Films.[2]

Controversy

The original Traces of Death has run into controversy worldwide due to its graphic content. In 1997, Amy Hochberg, a woman living in Coaldale, Pennsylvania rented the film from a video store and was so disgusted by the film's content that she considered keeping the tape as to avoid children from procuring it from the store. She also contacted multiple animal rights groups after witnessing a scene in the film wherein a pig is experimented on with a blowtorch. She also lodged a complaint with the video store she had rented it from, as she thought the film was simply "911 calls with a little more".[3]

In 2003, a DVD boxset of the film and its sequels were confiscated by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, after being deemed to "contravene Regulation 4A(1A)(a) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations."[4]

In 2005, the British Board of Film Classification refused to give the first film an age certificate, effectively banning it. The BBFC considered the film to have "no journalistic, educational or other justifying context for the images shown", while also suggesting that the film could potentially breach UK law under the Obscene Publications Act.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kerekes, David; Slater, David. Killing for Culture. Creation Books. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-871592-20-7.
  2. ^ Traces of Death Box Set - Volumes 1-5 at the Wayback Machine (archived 2013-08-11)
  3. ^ Laylo, Bob (March 4, 1997). "HORROR VIDEOTAPE GOES TOO FAR FOR VIEWER * MOVIE RENTAL IN LANSFORD SPURS WOMAN TO BRING COMPLAINT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE". The Morning Call. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Films: T #3 | Censor". Refused-Classification.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "Traces of Death". BBFC. 22 June 2005. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
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