Search - Behind the Mask - The Rise of Leslie Vernon on DVD

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 6/3/2011...

Behind the Mask is a comedy horror about a serial killer who is trying to become famous and so invites a film crew to do a documentary about him. And of course, things go horribly wrong. This is not a bad film, but it's also not very memorable. It falls into the category of a good watch for an evening, but probably not something you'll have to watch again and again. It's got it's share of nods to the horror genre it's parodying/giving homage to, like a cameo by Robert Englund. Overall, if you're a fan of the slasher genre, give it a watch.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Michael G. (mgmirkin) from PORTLAND, OR
Reviewed on 2/2/2011...

This had to have been one of the most god-awfully boring "slasher" movies I've ever seen. In the end, this movie amounts to very little.

I liked the cameo by Robert Englund. I think that's about the best thing I can say about this movie.

In all it's a faux documentary of an up-and-coming teen slasher serial killer (like Jason, Michael, Freddy, Chucky, etc.). A film crew follows him around. Hilarity DOES NOT ensue (rather an hour of boring tedium, and then about 10-15 minutes of unscary "horror movie"). The ending isn't particularly inventive or scary, seeing as how the entire plot has already been telegraphed in advance through the "documentary." Nothing like giving everything away. The "twist" isn't much of one, maybe a quarter turn. Shocking! NOT...

Sorry, this movie just didn't hit its mark. It wasn't funny, it was awkward, the acting was okay, but the plot seemed pretty minimal.

Avoid Behind the Mask / Leslie Vernon...

Go watch How to Be a Serial Killer, instead. So much better a movie. That one I actually laughed with (and at, just a bit). That one was closer to Dexter meets Shaun of the Dead (a tongue-in-cheek serial killer teaches a faux seminar on how to become a serial killer; hilarity often DOES ensue).

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Nicole W. (sterju3) from SCRANTON, PA
Reviewed on 8/17/2009...

wow! What a great movie! This movie starts off as a documentry about a man who is preparing himself to be a serial killer... He tells of how to find the perfect victims and how he finds "the one" (the girl who gets away, and can take him down). He spends days preparing and setting up his murderous plan, and even visits his mentor, a retired serial killer. Wonderful acting from all involved. The ending turns out to be just the way he planned. The reporter doing the interview doesn't realize until the end what he tells her is actually going to happen, and soon realizes that she plays an important role in his plan. A must see for horror fans! An absolute gem that nobody has ever heard of..Recomended highly!

4 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.

Patrick B. (royale) from TERRE HAUTE, IN
Reviewed on 10/30/2008...

I passed this movie by quite a few times before may son suggested getting it. It starts as a horror mockumentary but becomes a pretty good horror flick. The actiing is good from a bunch of people I have never heard about and Robert Englund has a lot of fun with his character in the movie. Anyone who likes slasher movies but is a little jaded should watch this movie. It puts a new spin on the slasher horror and is a blast.

7 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.

As a self aware ode to slasher flicks, it's funnier than Scr

M. Henke | Saint Charles, MO United States | 06/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this back in January of 2007 or perhaps it was last fall in '06, and the director attended the screening and answered questions afterwards. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, it was very well done in a self aware, wink to the audience, breaking the fourth wall kind of way. Very funny for the first half or two thirds of the movie as a film crew follows "Leslie Vernon" around, documenting why and how a serial killer/slasher does what he does. There were so many in-jokes for fans of the genre, you won't be disappointed, it's very funny.

Around two thirds of the way thru the film, the director switches gears and actually turns the movie from mockumentary into straight forward slasher flick, no more shaky camera work or wise-cracking. As the killer has set things up for the viewer in the documentary portion, you figure you know what's going to happen once the killing begins, but not so! There are still plenty of surprises left in store!

Nathan Baesel as the title character is the perfect mix of humorous, spastic, and creepy as a wanna-be killer who idolizes the likes of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers (who incidentally are all real live killers and not fictional creations in the context of this movie). Baesel reminds me a bit of Jim Carrey. My friend who attended the movie with me and who dislikes Carrey disagreed on the similarity but still found Baesel's performance enjoyable as well.

The movie has a different approach to it than other satires or homages to the slasher flick in that the movie worked better separating the serious portion of the film from the humorous element, in order to maximize both (or at least the humorous element). At least, I thought so. I'm not sure what this film would have turned out like had it been set up to mix the mockumentary portion with the "live" killing scenes - I think the humor would have needed to take a back seat to the action and overall the movie would have been less enjoyable?

Bottom line, if you liked Scream for its mix of humor and horror, you'll like Behind the Mask, too. Just be prepared that you won't get humor and horror at the same time but rather one after the other. I will be buying this one on DVD (and I don't generally buy a lot of movies).

"

Awesome spoof

Mrs. Bronson | My Happy Place | 10/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With every horror film I've watched recently, I've had my reservations. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but my partner warned my that it wouldn't be like anything we'd watched together thus far. I laughed through the whole thing. The documentary feel to the beginning of the movie REALLY worked for me. Our killer has a sense of humor, a personality, and seems like such a sweet guy. When he jumped out of the closet to commit the murders, my jaw just kinda hit the floor. I guess I knew he'd go through with his plans but it was still kinda shocking... I LOVED IT!

The music was well done, it was just spooky enough at the end. The juxtaposition of the two moods were perfect. It wasn't a gradual change which made it even more noticable.

Basically, I thought it was well done. Great characters, great mood, great everything on this one. I definately recommend this one with a solid two thumbs up. :-)"

Great for fans of slasher flicks

Blake Petit | Ama, Louisiana United States | 08/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those movies I wound up watching just to try to see what all the fuss was about. I was incredibly happy that I did. "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" is an incredibly inventive mockumentary/slasher flick. Most of the film is from the point of view of a group of a grad student named Taylor Gentry who is filming a documentary about Leslie Vernon, an up-and-coming slasher hoping to make his name along with the greats like Krueger, Voorhees and Myers. Leslie is far from your typical slasher, though -- he's clever, funny, charming and extremely pleasant. It's not until he puts on the mask that his slasher persona takes over.



In the "film within a film", Leslie details for Taylor exactly how he goes about constructing his "legend," choosing victims and even stages his murders in meticulous detail, all the while keeping that good-natured charm. The movie is funny and disturbing at the same time: funny because of how carefully the filmmakers parody the conventions of the slasher genre and disturbing because of how genuinely likable Leslie is even as he's explaining how he's going to slaughter innocent teenagers.



The few weak points come towards the end, after the film within a film is dropped and we go into the real slasher parts. While the writing is still just as smart and clever, some of the effects are a little weak. Still, this is a lot of fun and well worth it for fans of slasher movies looking for the next Freddy or Jason."