Haggisboy
09-07-2006, 05:03 PM
Over the past 10 years Montreal’s Fantasia film festival (http://www.fantasiafestival.com/2006/en/) has grown to become North America’s premier genre fest. Specializing in horror, sci-fi and fantasy films, it’s a place where budding and established filmmakers rub shoulders and test their creations before keen but critical-eyed crowds as they attempt to secure distribution deals; a place where cineastes can not only be among the first to see new films, but frequently pose questions to the directors themselves.
At first glance, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, appeared to be a prime example of the filler material that can be found at this, and other film festivals throughout the world. Low budget, competently directed, but totally derivative and otherwise unspectacular. That was – until the lights went down the film started rolling.
A prime example of a movie turning one’s preconceptions on their collective head, Director Scott Glosserman’s Behind the Mask is a witty, superbly crafted and acted movie chronicling the exploits of the eponymous Vernon (played by Nathan Baesel) as he consents to be the subject of a documentary about serial killers produced by a group of journalism grad students.
Classifying this movie as a “mockumentary” or a parody of the slasher film genre simply isn’t doing it justice. The film begins as a supremely witty comedy as the student filmmakers follow Vernon through his “training regimen” en route to honing his craft as a serial killer, but turns progressively dark as the film enters its second and third act.
Peppered with absolutely brilliant dialogue, Glosserman manages to deliver a movie that belies its limited budget by deploying a keen eye for cinematography, acting talent, and crackerjack scriptwriting. I started this movie laughing heartily, and concluded it squirming in my seat as the joke was off and things got serious.
In an interview given after the screening, Glosserman, who is currently in negotiations to find a global distributor, cautioned that due to potential copyright and classification hassles with the MPAA the film might end up being released under a different or modified title. Either way, keep your eyes open for this gem, even if it only manages to make it to DVD. It’ll rip your guts out laughing.
Behind the Mask - Official Site (http://www.behindthemaskthemovie.com/)
At first glance, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, appeared to be a prime example of the filler material that can be found at this, and other film festivals throughout the world. Low budget, competently directed, but totally derivative and otherwise unspectacular. That was – until the lights went down the film started rolling.
A prime example of a movie turning one’s preconceptions on their collective head, Director Scott Glosserman’s Behind the Mask is a witty, superbly crafted and acted movie chronicling the exploits of the eponymous Vernon (played by Nathan Baesel) as he consents to be the subject of a documentary about serial killers produced by a group of journalism grad students.
Classifying this movie as a “mockumentary” or a parody of the slasher film genre simply isn’t doing it justice. The film begins as a supremely witty comedy as the student filmmakers follow Vernon through his “training regimen” en route to honing his craft as a serial killer, but turns progressively dark as the film enters its second and third act.
Peppered with absolutely brilliant dialogue, Glosserman manages to deliver a movie that belies its limited budget by deploying a keen eye for cinematography, acting talent, and crackerjack scriptwriting. I started this movie laughing heartily, and concluded it squirming in my seat as the joke was off and things got serious.
In an interview given after the screening, Glosserman, who is currently in negotiations to find a global distributor, cautioned that due to potential copyright and classification hassles with the MPAA the film might end up being released under a different or modified title. Either way, keep your eyes open for this gem, even if it only manages to make it to DVD. It’ll rip your guts out laughing.
Behind the Mask - Official Site (http://www.behindthemaskthemovie.com/)