Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
The next great psycho horror slasher has given a documentary crew exclusive access to his life as he plans his reign of terror over the sleepy town of Glen Echo.
cultfilmliker reviewedMarch 7, 2025
Nice little meta mockumentary. Obviously inspired by Man Bites Dog but original enough to deserve its own story for sure. Surprisingly well-acted for what the film appears to be, with a unique concept executed quite well. Reminds me of The Last Exorcism in that rite (pun intended). It also works as a solid black comedy at points. The formulaic “fate” and “choice-driven” themes feel like they may have inspired Cabin in the Woods. Really should be talked about more since coming out in 2006. Enjoyed the million nods to horror past. Seems appropriate in a film like this. A wonderful blend of genres. Everything about the film is tongue-in-cheek and I loved it. Even the cheesy acting was appreciated when it was fittingly used to emphasize the schlock horror / romance parody. Probably palatable for people not super into horror! Not a lot of gore or scares even lol
I would have loved more physicality rather than employing the trope of aimless running around the film was satirizing. Definitely makes the third act drag a bit. I also wish there could have been more distinct differences in film quality / lighting / production value between the first-person footage and the more standard narrative horror scenes. Also some of the kills were incredibly lackluster, weak, and at one point even seemingly non-existent (the librarian, which I get it wrt the actress but like also you chose that role to kill off)