DVD Review: ‘Behind the Mask’

What a freshman film outing for Scott Glosserman! Directing his first feature film, Glosserman transitions brilliantly from stage productions. All sorts of critics are hailing this movie as brilliant … and I am one of them. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a smart, clever, funny and thrilling horror experience that combines some established genre standards into something new and fresh. You’ll see the fun mood from Scream, homages from slasher classics like Friday the 13th and Halloween, references to others like A Nightmare on Elm Street, and even some less recognizable influences from movies like the violent French mockumentary Man Bites Dog.

The film stars Nathan Baesel as Leslie Vernon, a man who’s chosen to act as a “counter-balance to all that we consider good and pure” by carrying on the age-old tradition of fear through legends and curses. Like that of his [in]famous predecessors [Freddy, Jason, Michael] Leslie has worked long and hard to pull off the perfect slasher masterpiece. He’s agreed to have a three-person documentary crew follow him as he prepares for his big day. Leslie takes the crew, led by reporter Taylor Gentry (Angela Goethals), through the many intricate steps and details involved in planning such an elaborate “supernatural return of the dead boy seeking his own vengeance.”

The story prospers even further by the introduction of two supporting characters played by great veteran actors. The first is Eugene (Scott Wilson), a retired serial killer “from the old days” who mentors Leslie in his pursuit. The second is Doc Halloran (Robert Englund), a renegade psychologist who is on Leslie’s trail, Hell-bent on stopping him by whatever means necessary. These two characters add some great additional depth to the story, which already benefits from great dialogue, exceptional plot details and an honest respect for the genre.

We are drawn into the story as Taylor peels away the inner-workings of Leslie, bit by bit. Leslie explains how he’s been tracking his perfect virgin “survival girl” who will tie his entire project together. As the big day draws closer and closer, Taylor becomes more and more consciously distraught over what they are doing. The story climaxes when Taylor discovers what Leslie truly had in mind from the very beginning. Anyone who enjoys the slasher sub-genre of horror should be checking this movie out, like … yesterday!

[rating:4.5/5]