‘Faces of Death’ Star Says It Reflects Everything Wrong With the Internet [Exclusive]

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Barbie Ferreira is well-known for playing young women involved in the often-complicated world of the internet. She first gained recognition in 2019 as Kat in the show Euphoria, a teenager who found empowerment through online work. Since then, the 29-year-old New Yorker has also become a prominent figure in horror films, appearing in hits like Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022), House of Spoils (2024), and now a new version of Faces of Death, which originally presented shocking depictions of death in a mockumentary style.

In the film, Ferreira plays Margot, who works as a content moderator for a social media platform called Kino. While reviewing videos, she discovers footage that seems to recreate scenes from a famous 1970s horror movie. Margot must then determine what is genuine and what is staged, but the distinction becomes increasingly unclear, especially as the videos begin to feel personally threatening. Ferreira told MovieWeb that she was drawn to the role because Margot, like herself, is a public figure.

I found Margot to be a really compelling character because I kept thinking about the experience of losing someone you love. It’s something many people go through, and it’s not really a private experience. As an actor, I’m used to being seen and talked about online – it’s part of the job. But I started to imagine what it would be like to be a regular person, not involved in the constant attention-seeking of social media, and then suddenly facing a very public, tragic event that defines how people remember you.

Actress Ferreira, who recently appeared on Broadway in Cult of Love (2024), explains that Faces of Death explores how violence spreads online. She sees her character and the serial killer Arthur, played by Dacre Montgomery (known from Stranger Things), as representing the same core issues from different perspectives.

I grew up discovering these incredibly shocking films – things like Faces of Death, Cannibal Holocaust, and Salò – which felt like a reaction against how restrained mainstream Hollywood was at the time. Now, though, we’re constantly surrounded by violence, especially online. It’s become so commonplace that it’s profitable, and everyone – kids and adults alike – is exposed to it. It’s almost impossible to avoid seeing something disturbing, and I started thinking about the impact that has on people. That’s where my interest in Faces of Death came from. The characters Margot and Arthur really embody the problems of the internet age. They represent both sides of the coin – being harmed by the internet and actively using it to hurt others.

Daniel Goldhaber, the director behind the 2018 horror film Cam and 2022’s How to Blow Up a Pipeline, directed Faces of Death. He again worked with writer Isa Mazzei on this project. The film features Josie Totah (known for Jesse) and musician Charlie XCX (from The Moment). Filming took place in April and May 2023, with some additional shots completed in 2024.

Early reviews for the film have been largely positive. IndieWire described it as a “smart, fun, and deeply unsettling post-modern slasher,” and Variety called it a “clever retro slasher movie with substance,” highlighting the direction and writing of Daniel Goldhaber. Made on a budget of $7.4 million, the film will be available in theaters and on the Shudder streaming service starting April 10th.

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2026-04-08 04:18