A Certain Kind of Death (2003)

Directors:

Grover Babcock
Blue Hadaegh

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Unblinking and unsettling, this documentary lays bare a mysterious process that goes on all around us - what happens to people who die with no next of kin. |

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Directed by
Grover Babcock
Blue Hadaegh

Also Known As:

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Color

Excellent Documentary

One of the better documentaries I've seen, A Certain Kind of Death explores what happens to people whose bodies go unclaimed by relatives. Although it's a grisly subject the film makers were able to make it an interesting and very watchable experience.

Dead bodies in various stages of decomposition are seen, but not played for shock factor. Instead, you learn a little about each person, both what they were before death and what will happen to them afterward. They are followed from the discovery of the body to the final disposition of the remains, and each step in between.

The LA County Coroner's Office figures prominently, and they are shown to be a dedicated and professional group with respect for the dead and their property. I was surprised to find this documentary to be so watchable, it has a good flow and answers most if not all questions.