The Mask

Penny_S4.5

Pick Your Poison ChallengePrompt 5: Dream a Little Dream - watch a film that features sleep, dreams, or nightmaresThis was such a fun film! According to its intro, if I had gone to see this back when it was released, I would have received a mask to put on at certain times during the story. And I’m assuming the mask may have had 3D lenses in the eyes? Just based how some of the images in the film would’ve lent themselves well to a 3D experience.Anyway, the art direction, sets, locations, and visual effects in this were amazing! I loved them so much!!! They carried the film, truly. The premise was about an ancient mask, that when put on, brings out the desires and nature of its wearer. Kind of interesting, when you think about how people wear invisible masks every day, presenting themselves as how they want the world to see them.There were several spooky dream nightmares, experienced by those seemingly possessed by the mask…. kind of trippy but not annoyingly so. Sometimes I couldn’t tell who I was looking at, because the masks distorted the characters’ features. If those had been executed better, this would have been an easy 5stars.

matt lynch3.0

The story surrounding three magnificent 3D montage sequences by the great Slavko Vorkapić is fairly bland but you won't care. It's just a delivery device for these brain-seizing temples of doom, violent hallucinations of burning flesh, disfigured faces, flaming skeleton shamans, and choking fog. Unashamedly kooky and truly delirious.

Amy3.0

Another one that I think probably worked better during the time of release, in a big theatre or a drive-in. The nightmarish and hallucinatory visuals were definitely a fun time and worth the rating, but the narrative in between did not interest me much until the final twist. I probably would have liked this more had I paid full attention and watched this in 3-D if I had a TV capable of that. This is not to write this film off, I’m sure it would totally be up your alley if you’re into cheesy, psychosexual b-movies. I’ll revisit this someday if I can get my hand on a 3-D television, or if I can use a projector? I’ll have to do my research.Also, another shoutout to Canada, for this; this is apparently our first horror film, the first film that was widely distributed in the United States, and the only Canadian 3-D feature! Cool stuff!