Trevor

IMDB link for Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Selection made by Darth Maher.

These "2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge Day #" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 Films in 31 Days subset.

General discussion on the 2009 DVDTalk Horror Challenge goes here, your list for the Challenge goes here.

The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day. You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.

Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day. Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.

Spoiler tags will not be needed, as it will be expected that anyone here has seen the film.

Do not read this thread if you have not seen the film, unless you don't mind the ending being spoiled for you.

Larry C.

Will be watching this one shortly

clckworang

I watched this one for the first time earlier in the challenge. I really enjoyed it! It's been showing on The Movie Channel, so if someone wants to record it to watch it in HD, there's your chance.

Groucho

I thought it started out fairly strong and humorous, but eventually it just devolves into a sub-par slasher and completely drops the central conceit.

dhmac

Just a reminder that "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon" is available on NetFlix "Watch Instantly" online streaming for those with NetFlix accounts.

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Cardsfan111

I need to re-visit this at some point. Caught it two years ago for the horror challenge and made a note that I wasn't that impressed with it. Enough folks have indicated liking it which tells me I might want to give it another chance.

Darkgod

I watched this for the first time and really enjoyed it. I liked how ti went from a mock-documentary to an actual film, and the twist I dug too. Also being a horror fan, I enjoyed the little shout outs to horror films past.

tylergfoster

I'm not participating in the challenge -- one of these times I'll try harder to understand how it works -- but I have seen this movie, and I really liked the first two-thirds and then the final chunk let me down. The filmmaker character was becoming more and more annoying the entire time until she finally became a real aggravating pest, and much of the material got very strained.

Mondo Kane

My first viewing tonight.
Completely genius idea, but I just wished that a slightly bigger budget was at hand. I guess it's just the gorehound in me, but I would've loved to see the film-crew's reactions on witnessing some real gruesome deaths that Leslie was creating. A bit of over-the-top FX would have balanced out the movie more (IMO) and made the final act more stronger and pleasing. Again, IMO.

Fist of Doom

I agree with those suggestions. The final act was the weakest part of the film, and the way the film crew reacted got pretty silly.

That being said, I loved the rest of the film. The guy playing Leslie struck the perfect note - he was funny as hell and exuded just the right amount of scary. Loved the scenes with his "mentor."

Oh, and Leslie's death mask is awesome.

clckworang

I agree that the final act was the weakest part of the film, but I didn't really mind all that much. I figured we had already been told what to expect. I couldn't see this film going way off the slasher genre path in the climax, and it makes perfect sense that the documentary girl would be Leslie's "survivor girl."

The actor who played Leslie was really great, as was the older serial killer. I didn't realize the guy who played Leslie was the one-armed guy on Invasion. And documentary girl looked so familiar to me. I looked her up and realized that she portrayed perhaps the worst character in the history of the TV show 24. She made up for that a little bit with this role.

mzupeman2

Although the final act was weak, it was the switch from documentary to actual horror film stylings that made this film all the more clever. (Also a non participant, but had to comment)

Trevor

First time viewing for me, and an example of my complete lack of observational skills.

I remember this coming out, but got it in my mind that it was yet another generic slasher flick, so I ignored it. I never would have watched it if it wasn't for it being picked here. If I had known that it was part comedy and mockumentary, I would have seen it in the theater eagerly.

And been disappointed.

The concept was great, but I felt that the dialogue was poorly written and executed. More later, off to lunch.

riotinmyskull

she was also in home alone. kevin's sister or cousin. the one that spoke french. "Kevin, you're what the French call les incompétents"

clckworang

Wow, I would have never put that together. Funny!

terrycloth

i really enjoyed this one and have seen it several times before. Im in the same boat about the last part being poorly done but the begining more then makes up for it imo with some generally hilarous moments.

Darth Maher

Ok, I suggested this movie so I might as well chime in, right?

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon was screening at Flashback Weekend Horror Convention one year. After a long day of shooting footage and manning our table (for our horror-host show, World of the Weird Monster Show), most of us elected to leave and get some sleep rather than stay late and watch a movie we'd never heard of. Big mistake. One of the guys who stuck around to watch it told us how great it was the next day. Our opinions of movies often differ so I didn't go out of my way to see it. However shorty after, I kept reading more and more online about it and it sounded like something I'd like. After searching several B&M stores for a while, I finally found it at Circuit City... and bought it. I watched it for the first time that day and loved it.

It was just an all around fun horror movie. It had comedy, gore, suspense, in-jokes... And I loved the references to the other horror icons as if they really existed. True, it got a little cheesy at times, but that's what made the movie work. It didn't take itself too seriously.

So, I've been meaning to watch this again for the longest time, but as we got nearer to the challenge I figured I'd just hold off. And when Trevor asked for suggestions, I just had to throw this out there. Watching it again tonight was almost as much fun as seeing it for the first time.

Trevor

I love that so many of the recent subset choices have been unique, trying to do something a little different.

For me, this film is like an almost home run, but ends up as a meaningless fly out.

Awesome concept, nice shout-outs to the genre's history, and a good performance from the lead. Also loved his mask!

But for me, it could have used a bit more work. It seems like the script could have used a few re-writes, and that the performances were mainly first takes and could have been much better. I kept wanting to love it, but it seemed like every scene had me thinking, "almost". Not sure if I'm explaining this well, or if anyone agrees. Going to look for some reviews now, to check.

indiephantom

I rented this when it first came out and found it to be pretty trite and badly acted. I'm not much of a fan of the mockumentary approach (or anything similar, like the current fad of first person video). I'm kind of amazed it has so many fans.