Day 9: Behind The Mask (2006)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 9: Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)


In a world where Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees are real, there are those who revere the ability of these lethal stalkers' ability to decimate their prey with fierce abandon.  Perhaps their biggest overall fan is Leslie Vernon, and "Behind The Mask" is his story.

The mid-2000s were a great time for subversive approaches to standard horror tactics.  I am surprised going through this list so far, that many of the films selected already happen to fall within this period.  And I can already think of a couple more that will be making appearances down the line.

"Behind the Mask" is documentary-style film that tracks Leslie Vernon's rise as the next great "killer".  Nathan Baesel, who portrays Vernon in the film, has an easy-going delivery that helps engage us in the process of becoming "one of the greats".  What ensues is a flawed, but fun look at the tropes of the slasher genre.

As the documentary crew follows Vernon, he gives them insight into the process of developing the right mythology, proper victim stalking etiquette, and the art of preparation.  Vernon jovially outlines the importance of cardio because without it you can't "do that whole walking while everyone else is running like hell thing", and shows off a home library that contains everything from Grey's Anatomy, to books about magic.

This is not a scary movie, but it is an extremely entertaining disection of the slasher-film genre and the myriad character archetypes that go with them.  The major flaw in the film is the suspension of belief required to buy in to the "documentary" crew playing such a complicit role in the proceedings, especially since some of the bigger action beats shift towards a more Hollywood, multi-camera shooting style.

I remember this being a fun movie, and it was.  Again, not without its flaws, but a decent way to pass a night on the way to Day 10, where I will be taking a trip back in time to kick the wolfman in the gnards!