Behind the mask: the rise of Lesley Vernon

Not since Wes Craven's Scream had brought the slasher genre to the realm of self-awareness, with countless imitations raiding the 90s, the cult classic sophisticatedly known as Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon gave this self deconstruction a whole new twist: we actually get to see our bad guy's point of view on it!

Behind The Mask tells the story of a three-person documentary group interviewing a charming yet eccentric man known as Leslie, who's dream of becoming the next serial slasher he willingly and openly shares with them, from simple tricks that creates the onscreen clichés we got used to, (as in doors closing by themselves as false scares or creepy newspaper clipping that acts as a red herring) to the familiarized character stereotyping, and how it usually plans out. (as in how they usually go into the dark and creepy basement with a date just to get scored, or how the final girl always has to be a virgin)

Things started off real simple and harmless, with either Leslie treating out the trio to meet up with an old friend who also claims to be once a professional slasher before retirement or stalking his potential victims, but the more they near to the night of his supposed killing spree, the more they realize that Leslie might be really serious with his job and he's willingness to murder innocent people might be too much for them to just let go.

As the big night falls, Leslie finally brandishes his sickle and dons the mask, and our crew has a choice to turn tail, or die saving these kids.

The film is actually of two halves, the first, being the longest and steady in pace, is shot through a mockumentary style, while the second half is when we finally shifts to a slasher film in your traditional presentation; all in all, a welcome attempt to another deconstruction of this fairly loved horror subgenre.

Full of wit and humor, Behind the Mask is a clever look into what possibly runs behind the murder sprees our slashers are known for as in a sort-of realistic way; surely, the film seems to take place in a world where villains like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and even Chucky existed and had terrorized more than once, so it seems that hacking up teenagers in a systematized fashion is an underground fad that people like Leslie can choose to take part of, albeit unknown to the rest of society, and become one of the best in the "business". Funny thing about that is many of our aspiring killer's tool of the trade were just simple everyday things an individual can grab hold to or something we can actually do; the closing door jump scare I mentioned earlier? A simple brick tied to a rope! How does a slow-moving killer keep up with his victims? Simple Exercise and a healthy living! Killer survives a fatal blow of an axe? Probably because he loosened the axe head before the night even began! Yes, in this movie, the slasher world is full of cheats, but one cannot argue with the execution of the process if it gives workable results!

As to why our crew had decided to film this project in the first place is an interesting question, but I can't blame them as the guy practicing these warm-ups for a massacre is criminally charming! Nathan Baesel did a terrific job as an everyday-looking man with a penchant and pride for serial killing. His aspiration to be one of the top is engaging, motivating and somehow a little bit human. Human in a sense that we actually get to see his reasoning and his longing for company, hence his warm and lively approach to his company, but of course, being a slasher, we cannot really trust him all in all. On the other side of coin, Angela Goethals plays Taylor Gentry, the aspiring interviewee who first found Leslie's dream of murder to be intriguing at first but soon found it as something she must intervene on. We actually followed her as much time as we did with Leslie, and Goethals played this character with much growth and concern that in the near end, we can't help but root for her.

The last third of the movie is where it took an amazing turn; rules are changed, twists are made, and we all get to see it on its own running; people are finally picked off one by one and Leslie's doing it with style and blood to keep a true fan happy.

And speaking of the fans, Behind the Mask also had littered its little world with more horror movie tributes than you can shake a stick with. Cameos including The Poltergeist's late Zelda Rubinstein as a librarian who knows a thing or two about the Leslie legend, and Robert Englund, Freddy Krueger himself, as a Dr. Loomis-esque hunter of evil, who knows more of what's going on than our hapless filmmakers. Apart from simple mentions, we also have little winks and nods to films like Halloween (Rabbit in Red Lounge), The Shining (some of the character's name), Pet Sematary (Leslie's pet turtles) or even Hellraiser. (The Lament Configuration)

Some may find it talky, others would disapprove of its self-referencing as a tiring, overused cliché to post-modern slasher films, but in a matter of taste, Behind the Mask is something worth trying. If you're looking for that one smart, fresh and funny slasher film to enjoy in one rainy night, then look no further, Leslie's coming for you! Anybody else, here's a bottle of Stay Awake...

bodycount:

1 male and 1 female hacked to death with sickle

1 male pitchfork through the chest

1 male sickle to the neck

1 male heart plucked out with postpole digger

1 female falls to her death

1 male neck broken

1 female hacked to death with sickle

1 male hanged, neck broken

total: 9

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