ABCs of Death is a series of American-produced multilingual comedy horror anthology films created in independent filmmaking collaboration with various countries; including two limited theatrical releases, and one straight-to-consumer video on demand spin-off film.
Created from an original story concept by producer Ant Timpson, the plot centers around a variety of anthological explorations of horror and death. Through the series, writers and directors create a segment centered around one of the letters of the alphabet, with the studios allowing creative freedom to each of the filmmakers once they were assigned their segment (including which word they chose to explore with their given letter). The resulting film series includes a diversity in cultures, languages, content, and subgenres within the horror genre.
The film series as a whole has been met with a variety of classifications from film critics; the original film was met with mixed critical reception, while the second installment was more well received overall. The third released movie was similarly met with mixed reception from critics, though it was acknowledged as fitting the praiseworthy aspects of the previous two films. Though the box office numbers for the series were not considered as well as expected, Timpson later stated that the series had made enough monetary income through video on demand to justify continuing to develop additional installments.
Films Film U.S. release date Segment Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Concept by Producers The ABCs of Death Title Sequence(s) Aaron Becker Ant Timpson Ant Timpson Ant Timpson and Tim League A is for Apocalypse Nacho Vigalondo Gorka Cornejo Nacho Vigalondo Ant Timpson, Tim League, Nahikari Ipiña and Nacho Vigalando B is for Bigfoot Adrián García Bogliano Ant Timpson, Tim League and Andrea Quiroz Hernández C is for Cycle Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Haroldo Muñoz and Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Ant Timpson, Tim League and Marlene Vargas Brebes D is for Dogfight Marcel Sarmiento Ant Timpson, Tim League and Douglas Nabors E is for Exterminate Angela Bettis Brent Hanley Ant Timpson, Tim League, Angela Bettis and Jammes Luckett F is for Fart Noboru Iguchi Ant Timpson, Tim League, Marc Walkow and Yoshihiro Nishimura G is for Gravity Andrew Traucki Ant Timpson, Tim League and Andrew Traucki H is for Hydro-Electric Diffusion Thomas Cappelen Malling Kenneth Olaf Hjellum and Thomas Cappelen Malling Thomas Cappelen Malling Ant Timpson, Tim League and Hugo Hagemann Fosker I is for Ingrown Jorge Michel Grau Martha Poly R. Mendivil & Jorge Michel Grau Ant Timpson, Tim League and Mayra Espinosa Castro J is for Jidai-geki (Samurai Movie) Yūdai Yamaguchi Ant Timpson, Tim League, Marc Walkow and Yoshihiro Nishimura K is for Klutz Anders Morgenthaler Anders Morgenthaler Ant Timpson, Tim League, Sine Birkegaard Pedersen L is for Libido Timo Tjahjanto Ant Timpson, Tim League, Novialita Fa and Dicky Fa M is for Miscarriage Ti West Ant Timpson, Tim League, Peter Phok and Ti West N is for Nuptials Banjong Pisanthanakun Banjong Pisanthanakun & Nontra Khumvong Ant Timpson and Tim League O is for Orgasm Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani P is for Pressure Simon Rumley Ant Timpson, Tim League, Simon Rumley and Milton Kam Q is for Quack Adam Wingard Simon Barrett Keith Calder Ant Timpson, Tim League and Lino Stavole R is for Removed Srđan Spasojević Dimitrije Vojnov & Srđan Spasojević and Marija Stanosević Ant Timpson, Tim League, Srđan Spasojević and Dragana Jovanović S is for Speed Jake West Ant Timpson, Tim League, Francis O'Toole, Simon Boswell and Jake West T is for Toilet Lee Hardcastle Ant Timpson, Tim League and Lee Hardcastle U is for Unearthed Ben Wheatley Ben Wheatley & Andy Starke Ant Timpson, Tim League, Claire Jones and Andy Starke V is for Vagitus (The Cry of a Newborn Baby) Kaare Andrews Ant Timpson, Tim League and Chris Ferguson W is for WTF! Jon Schnepp Ant Timpson, Tim League and Jon Schnepp X is for XXL Xavier Gens Ant Timpson, Tim League, Michel Teicher, Camila Mendez and Esmeralda Leo Y is for Youngbuck Jason Eisener Ant Timpson, Tim League and Robert Cotterill Z is for Zetsumetsu (Extinction) Yoshihiro Nishimura Ant Timpson, Tim League, Marc Walkow and Yoshihiro Nishimura ABCs of Death 2 Title Sequence Wolfgang Matzl Ant Timpson Ant Timpson and Tim League A is for Amateur E. L. Katz David Chirchirillo and Rachel Lamb David Chirchirillo Ant Timpson, Tim League, Peter Katz, Don Le and Bobbi Sue Luther B is for Badger Julian Barratt Ant Timpson, Tim League and Andy Starke C is for Capital Punishment Julian Gilbey Ant Timpson, Tim League, Matthew Hobbs and Julian Gilbey D is for Deloused Robert Morgan Ant Timpson and Tim League E is for Equilibrium Alejandro Brugués Marc Walkow & Alejandro Brugués Ant Timpson, Tim League and Asori Soto F is for Falling Aharon Keshales & Navot Papushado Limor Shmila Ant Timpson, Tim League and Nadav Shlomo Giladi G is for Grandad Jim Hosking Jim Hosking & Toby Harvard Ant Timpson, Tim League and Andy Starke H is for Head Games Bill Plympton Ant Timpson, Tim League and Bill Plympton I is for Invincible Erik Matti Ant Timpson, Tim League and Relyn Tan J is for Jesus Dennison Ramalho Jeff Bühler Ant Timpson, Tim League, Rodrigo Castellar and Pablo Torrecillas K is for Knell Kristina Buožytė & Bruno Samper Kristina Buožytė & Bruno Samper and Darius Silenas Kristina Buožytė & Bruno Samper Ant Timpson, Tim League, Vitalijus Žukas, Jurga Jutaitė, Gabija Siurbytė, Kristina Buožytė and Burno Samper L is for Legacy Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen Ossa Earlice and B.B.C. Nwanchineke Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen Ant Timpson, Tim League and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen M is for Masticate Robert Boocheck Ant Timpson, Tim League, Wade Harpptlian, Robert Boocheck and Andrew Gilson N is for Nexus Larry Fessenden Ant Timpson, Tim League and Jenn Wexler O is for Ochlocracy (Mob Rule) Hajime Ohata Ant Timpson, Tim League and Mai Nakanishi P is for P-P-P-P SCARY! Todd Rohal Ant Timpson, Tim League, Clay Liford and Zack Carlson Q is for Questionnaire Rodney Ascher Ant Timpson, Tim League and Tim Kirk R is for Roulette Marvin Kren Benjamin Hessler Ant Timpson, Tim League and Pia Sophie Abazovic S is for Split Juan Martínez Moreno Ant Timpson, Tim League and Ben Jacques T is for Torture Porn Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska Ant Timpson, Tim League, Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska U is for Utopia Vincenzo Natali Vincenzo Natali and Candice Gregoris Vincenzo Natali Ant Timpson, Tim League and Peter Mabrucco V is for Vacation Jerome Sable Jerome Sable & Nicholas Musurca Ant Timpson, Tim League, Jerome Sable and Nicholas Musurca W is for Wish Steven Kostanski Jeremy Gillespie Ant Timpson, Tim League and Steven Kostanski X is for Xylophone Julien Maury & Alexandre Bustillo Ant Timpson and Tim League Y is for Youth Soichi Umezawa Ant Timpson, Tim League, Mai Nakanishi and Soichi Umezawa Z is for Zygote Chris Nash Ant Timpson, Tim League, Peter Kuplowsky and Shannon Rae Hanmer ABC's of Death 2½ M is for Magnetic Tape Tim Rutherford & Cody Kennedy Tim Rutherford, Kevin Martin & Cody Kennedy Ted Geoghegan, Tim Rutherford and Cody Kennedy M is for Maieusiophobia (The Fear of Giving Birth) Christopher Younes Ted Geoghegan and Christopher Younes M is for Mailbox Dante Vescio & Rodrigo Gasparini Dante Vescio, Rafael Baliú & Rodrigo Gasparini Ted Geoghegan, Dante Vescio and Rodrigo Gasparini M is for Make Believe Summer Johnson Ted Geoghegan and Summer Johnson M is for Malnutrition Peter Czikrai Ted Geoghegan, Peter Czikrai and Andrej Doleźal M is for Manure Michael Schwartz Jay Clarke & Michael Schwartz Ted Geoghegan, Jason Baskey and Michael Schwartz M is for Marauder Steve Daniels Ted Geoghegan and Steve Daniels M is for Mariachi Eric Pennycoff Ted Geoghegan and Ricardo Lorenzo M is for Marriage Todd E. Freeman Ted Geoghegan, Christian Burgess, Devon Lyon, Kevin Curry, Todd E. Freeman and Lara Cuddy M is for Martyr Jeff Stewart Ted Geoghegan and C.B. Kaczor M is for Matador Gigi Saul Guerrero Shane McKenzie Gigi Saul Guerrero & Luke Bramley Ted Geoghegan and Raynor Shima M is for Meat Wolfgang Matzl Ted Geoghegan and Wolfgang Matzl M is for Mermaid Ama Lea Robert G. Phelps Ted Geoghegan, Emma Jacobs and Ama Lea M is for Merry Christmas Joe Stas & Lloyd Stas Joe Stas & Lloyd Stas and Tom Stas Ted Geoghegan, Joe Stas and Lloyd Stas M is for Mess Carlos Faria Ted Geoghegan and Carlos Faria M is for Messiah Nicholas Humphries Bob Woolsey Ted Geoghegan, Lindsey Mann and Darren Borrowman M is for Mind Meld BC Glassberg BC Glassberg and Bridget Green BC Glassberg Ted Geoghegan and Jimmie Parker M is for Miracle Álvaro Núñez Ted Geoghegan and Sonia Álvarez M is for Mobile Barış Erdoğan Ted Geoghegan and Ozan Özkırmızı M is for Mom Carles Torrens Ted Geoghegan and Rich Salamone M is for Moonstruck Travis Betz Ted Geoghegan and Travis Betz M is for Mormon Missionaries Peter Podgursky Ted Geoghegan and Jacob Brumfield M is for Mother Ryan Bosworth Ryan Bosworth & Jennifer Bosworth Ted Geoghegan, Ryan Bosworth and Jennifer Bosworth M is for Muff Mia’Kate Russel Ted Geoghegan and Justin Dix M is for Munging Jason Koch & Clint Kelly Ted Geoghegan, Jason Kock and Clint Kelly M is for Mutant Stuart Simpson Ted Geoghegan and Fabian Pisani
The ABCs of Death (2012)
Released as an anthology film, featuring segments depicting various subgenres of horror that were directed by twenty-six of what the studio described as "the world's leading talents" in contemporary indie-filmmaking. With a premise inspired by ABC educational children's books, the movie is made up of twenty-six individual segments directed by a different director, who was assigned a specific letter of the alphabet; and given the task do develop a story and film a short that explores a death associated with that letter of the alphabet. The studio allowed each director creative freedom in choosing the word, and developing the segment around their choice. The result includes provocative, shocking, and comedic exploration of the reality of death. The film depicts the range of diversity within the modern horror movie genre.
Fangoria described the product as: "a stunning roll call of some of the most exciting names in horror across the world." Producer Ant Timpson later stated that the movie made a significant amount of income from video on demand (VOD) means, though he nor the studios would reveal those financial figures.
ABCs of Death 2 (2014)
Following the financial success of the first installment, the producers created another feature-length anthology film which includes twenty-six more segments depicting various horrific deaths. Inspired alongside the rest of the film series by the "ABC's" in children's literature, each filmmaker was assigned a letter of the alphabet and given creative control over the story and creation of the associated short. The studio once again touted "over two dozen of the world's leading talents in contemporary genre film", with the announcement of the project. Each segment explores a different aspect of death, through a variety of subgenres of horror through the styles of independent filmmaking.
Though the movie was met with much more critical praise than the first installment, the film suffered greatly financially due to the illegal pirating. Producer Ant Timpson would state in later years that the movie made enough income through VOD figures, to continue the film series.
ABC's of Death 2½ (2016)