BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON

directed by: Scott Glosserman
starring: Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, Robert Englund, Scott Wilson, Zelda Rubinstein, Bridgett Newton, Kate Lang Johnson, Ben Pace, Britain Spellings, Hart Turner, Krissy Carlson, Travis Zariwny, Teo Gomez, Matt Bolt, Jenafer Brown

"It is going to get wet in here tonight. Lace your boots up kiddies."

- Vernon tells the team it's going to get messy.

The slasher film sub-genre was inundated with self-awareness films, beginning with the clever SCREAM (Wes Craven, 1996), and continuing with several less inspirational knock offs over the last 12 years. While such self-awareness provided a moment of fun for long time slasher movie fans, few movies have shown a willingness to return to the roots and spirit of the sub-genre. The last thing most slasher movie fans have wanted to see in recent memory is another humor laced, self aware take on their favorite category.

So it comes as a surprise to this reviewer that first time director Scott Glosserman succeeded so well in creating the most self-aware title in slasher history. The material is handled far more intelligently than any similar venture to date, including SCREAM.

BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON, follows a pseudo documentary style for much of the film. A group of graduate students studying journalism have identified a budding serial killer named Leslie Vernon. And like all aspiring journalists, they naturally want to know how Vernon operates. Suspend your disbelief for a moment as Vernon agrees to allow the students to follow him around with a camera to watch him 'operate'.

But Leslie Vernon is no ordinary serial killer. Vernon strives to become a legendary "operator in the business", much like Freddy, Michael and Jason. Much like the aforementioned, Vernon already has an urban legend back story which terrorizes children around camp fires. All Vernon needs to do is emerge from legend into reality, much like “the night He came home.”

BEHIND THE MASK is often funny, and at times produces some truly hilarious moments. The very idea of what was happening on screen was enough to keep me chuckling throughout. Ever wonder how those legendary killers could appear in the shadows, and suddenly cause a door to slam on the other side of the room? As you will see, these are the secret tricks of the trade. David Copperfield post-TERROR TRAIN (1979) would be envious. Now I know how Michael and Jason stay at the top of their 'business'.

Have you ever wondered how legendary killers could calmly walk behind their sprinting victims and still catch up? Aerobics, and plenty of them. How about how the best killers can appear to be dead, and then suddenly rise to attack? Ancient techniques similar to those used in Yoga. Want to know how to survive a fire? How do killers know where to hide before their victims show up? How do you choose a final girl? How do you identify a virgin?

When asked why his chooses to live deep in the forest, rather than in his childhood home (which is considered haunted much like the Myers house), Leslie quips that if he is to make a frightening return, he "can’t exactly be seen mowing the lawn". Something about this line had me laughing for several minutes.

Rest assured slasher fans, BEHIND THE MASK treats the slasher sub-genre with the utmost respect and is done very intelligently. And before the end of the movie, it switches gears out of documentary style and into a respectable slasher in its own right.

A strong supporting cast aids BEHIND THE MASK immeasurably. Scott Wilson is solid as Vernon’s mentor. Robert Englund is wonderfully intimidating as Doc Halloran, an obvious homage to Kubrick’s THE SHINING (1980) in name, and Carpenter’s Doctor Loomis in character. Angela Goethals does a fine job as Taylor Gentry, a journalism student who is torn between her desire to get Vernon’s story and her need to save his targeted victims.

But it is Nathan Baesel who steals the show as Leslie Vernon. Baesel oozes charisma. He is funny, and scary at the flip of a switch. His performance screams 'psycho'. And much like the appeal of David Arquette’s performances in the Scream movies, it is obvious Baesel enjoys his role.

BEHIND THE MASK requires the proper mind set to be enjoyed. If you are interested in a straight forward slasher, you would do well to save this movie for another occasion. However if you want some slasher fun intermixed with intelligent humor and respect for the sub-genre, look no further.