BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
Starring Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals
and Robert Englund
Directed by Scott Glosserman
Written by Scott Glosserman and David J. Stieve
Glen Echo Entertainment/Code Entertainment
In the early 1980s, slasher films sliced and diced their way to the top of the horror heap, but more than two decades later, the countless sequels, copycats and remakes have started to resemble their superstar executioners: lumbering, mechanical, and unrelenting. That doesn't mean innovation is dead, however %u2013 Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a fresh and frequently hilarious deconstruction of everything we love about slasher cinema.
Taking the postmodern reflections of Scream and the mockumentary mayhem of Man Bites Dog one step further, Behind the Mask gleefully eviscerates the well-worn archetypes of the subgenre, and lays bare the symbolism and inner mechanics of these often-maligned films. Imagining the real-world logistics that might be involved in planning a horror movie-style teen massacre, the film follows student journalist Taylor (Angela Goethals) and her film crew as they document aspiring iconic slasher Leslie Vernon (Nathan Baesel) as he lays the groundwork for a night of bloodsoaked infamy.
The pitch-black fun in the film is in watching Leslie meticulously create the illusion that he is a supernatural serial killer back to take his revenge. From planting phony newspaper clippings in the local library to selecting a virginal "survivor girl" with just the right mix of dim-witted pals, Behind the Mask doesn't just lazily parody the genre, it explores all the familiar touchstones to reveal the hidden Freudian subtexts that have made these films so popular.
Much of Behind the Mask's success is due to Baesel's energetic and supremely likeable turn as Leslie. "This is my Christmas," he explains, weepy eyed, after sabotaging the flashlights and nailing shut the windows at the scene of his premeditated crime. But when Leslie dons his mask in the last half hour, he is transformed into the familiar emotionless killer, and the film's comedic elements seamlessly melt away into full-tilt horror. This inspired twist not only helps to ground the lighthearted first half of the film, but it also changes the stakes, as the observing filmmakers suddenly find themselves in just as much danger as the partying teens.
Featuring a cameo by Poltergeist's Zelda Rubinstein and co-starring Robert Englund, who is great as a sombre Dr. Loomis-like protector, Glosserman's surprisingly polished debut feature is as respectful to the slasher horror film as it is thoughtful, making Behind the Mask one of the best slasher films %u2013 or meta-slasher films %u2013 you're likely to see.