If you're like me, you grew up in the fetid decade known as "The Eighties", and every Friday night of your adolescence was spent watching the hit action adventure show "The Dukes of Hazzard". Being the young goofball that I was, I became infatuated with the wacky comic relief Sheriff, Roscoe P. Coltraine. Wimpy, easily manipulated, and funny as heck (hey, I was six), James Best's performance has stayed with me all these years.
So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered a video at the video store written by AND starring my hero! I eagerly snatched it off the shelf, also noting that Linnea Quigley, the gal I had admired so after watching "Return of the Living Dead", also had her name above the title.
I had no idea what I was in for. Mr. Best was apparently heavily influenced by the work of Ray Dennis Steckler (the killer wears a hooded sweatshirt; there's documentary footage of carnival rides). He also must hate himself very, very much. He wrote himself the plum part of a hideously scarred loser who can only get a job as the geek in a local carnival. He also sells his blood, eking out enough money to seek pleasure at the local house of ill repute (but even the prostitutes turn him down!). He tries to defend his mask-making as art, but we the audience never see any of his work except for the homicidal mask of the title.
Did I mention that people get killed in this movie? They do.
This flick was amazing- poorly edited, and with bad sound, but with a certain regional charm (It was made in Florida). For some reason, all the killing in the movie are seen in a montage before the opening credits. What were the film makers thinking?
So anyway: This film is a fascinating look into what one beloved TV star considers his "great role". It's amazing! So I recommend this as a curiosity. As a good movie.... no. Curiosity, yes.
So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered a video at the video store written by AND starring my hero! I eagerly snatched it off the shelf, also noting that Linnea Quigley, the gal I had admired so after watching "Return of the Living Dead", also had her name above the title.
I had no idea what I was in for. Mr. Best was apparently heavily influenced by the work of Ray Dennis Steckler (the killer wears a hooded sweatshirt; there's documentary footage of carnival rides). He also must hate himself very, very much. He wrote himself the plum part of a hideously scarred loser who can only get a job as the geek in a local carnival. He also sells his blood, eking out enough money to seek pleasure at the local house of ill repute (but even the prostitutes turn him down!). He tries to defend his mask-making as art, but we the audience never see any of his work except for the homicidal mask of the title.
Did I mention that people get killed in this movie? They do.
This flick was amazing- poorly edited, and with bad sound, but with a certain regional charm (It was made in Florida). For some reason, all the killing in the movie are seen in a montage before the opening credits. What were the film makers thinking?
So anyway: This film is a fascinating look into what one beloved TV star considers his "great role". It's amazing! So I recommend this as a curiosity. As a good movie.... no. Curiosity, yes.