Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

[Lamont Cranston]

This post is the result of a conversation I had when picking up my books at the Downtown location this morning. If you’re a fan of slasher-horror movies from the70’s and 80’s then you really should give this movie a look. Ever wonder why the window that would allow the victim to escape Jason is always stuck closed or why the ax Michael Myers gets hit with always breaks? It’s not coincidence, but careful planning on the part of the killer.

Behind the Mask is a mocumentary-style look at how the seemingly indestructible killer plans, prepares, and finally executes a murderous rampage while making it all look effortless and spontaneous. Why is the window stuck? It was nailed shut the day before. Why did the ax break? The handle was cut nearly through when every other obvious weapon in the house was also sabotaged. How can the killer keep coming after all of the teenage victims are exhausted from running? He does lots of cardio. The last 1/4 to 1/3 of the movie is a straight slasher flick, but the first part is essentially This Is Spinal Tap about a serial killer. Highly recommended given it is nearly Halloween if you want some laughs with your gore.

Oh, and it has guest appearances by Robert Englund (aka Freddie) and Zelda Rubinstein (aka the creepy little medium from Poltergeist).

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[Ryan]

What's with Hollywood these day? We never get good horror movies around Halloween, when everyone is in the mood to see them. The last Halloween movie, for example, was released in August, 2007. August!

[Lamont Cranston]

Well, there are the Saw movies, but after the first one I’m not sure they would qualify as “good” under even a very liberal definition of the word.

[Ryan]

Yah, I stopped watching after the second one. Those films are more brutal/disgusting than scary/suspenseful anyway, not to mention extremely predictable.

[Jacob Kattau]

This movie is b'dass! Definately a pant load of laughs, but the last portion is actual slasher movie, and damn good too. Absolutely one to check out.

[Penny]

I have this on my Netflix queque. I kept bumping it further down on my list because I was afraid it would suck. Maybe I will bump it closer to the top now.

[Troy Hickman]

One of the best horror movies I've seen in quite a while. Very clever stuff. In my opinion, it does what Wes Craven did (well) with Scream, but does it even better. Highly recommended.

[Penny]

Just watched this the other night. I thought it was pretty good. Well acted and directed. Loved seeing Robert Englund and I was really happy to see Zelda Rubenstein. I would reccommend it also.

[Asher]

This is a great movie and I thought the sexual implications between psychotic killer and female victim were hilarious.