Rent The ABCs of Death (2012)

The ABCs of Death review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso

A twenty-six film anthology the ABC’s of Death immediately reminded me of the popular Sue Grafton novels, the Alphabet Murder’s, unlike Grafton’s long standing work however the ABC’s of Death is more of a swift flash in the pan with many of the shorts gunning for the biggest shocks rather than any real depth.

An interesting idea the film presents a series of shorts with seemingly no limits, other than a budget of 5K each the films range in subject, strength and even language, veering across the globe as the various directors create what they perceive as the epitomise of body horror.

Unfortunately for many of these films what they really end up with is a short narrative-less (sometimes literal) hack job, with poorly executed violence, pointless and extremely sexless and graceless nudity and several death’s without context. Some of the shorts stand out more than others, a particular favourite being Y is for Youngbuck a throw back to eighties action cinema by Hobo with a Shotgun’s director Jason Eisener. Whilst others, such as Ti West’s M is for Miscarriage hinge on bloody shots of toilets and vaginas.

My recommendation to horror fans who are considering watching the ABC’s is to do your research first, several of the directors have provided a little insight into the story and context of their shorts which helps to make some far more interesting and enjoyable, whilst my only other recommendation is to be sure to have your remote by your side as some of the shorts are simply better watched on fast forward.