"Death Mask" begins with random gratuitous footage of Linnea Quigley in the shower, followed by a compilation of all the gory kills that will occur at some point during the movie. Odd, to say the least. It's as if the director wants to persuade the viewer that it's worthwhile to watch. "Please bear with us, and we promise you these highlights".
Unnecessary, as far as I'm concerned. "Death Mask" is the type of movie that you can't be too harsh for if you have a heart for horror. Despite being extremely cheap, terribly acted, poorly edited, and exclusively featuring cheesy DIY make-up effects, "Death Mask" honestly isn't such a bad film. It has what most horror movies released during the 1990s were lacking: a reasonably original plot and a devoted cast & crew. The setting is awesome, namely a shlocky carnival full of freaks, social rejects, and lewd strip dancers.
It is here that lonely and facially scarred Wilbur works as carver and exhibitor of creepy masks, and dreams of more success. His act is so outdated and unpopular that sleazy circus owner Guido wants to fire him. The gorgeous and good-hearted dancer Angel stands up for Wilbur and takes him to a witch in the nearby swamp. She gives Wilbur a log of wood from the infamous witch-hanging tree, and he carves the most nightmarishly realistic mask out of it. But the mask is more than just an exhibit. Once he puts on the mask, it empowers Wilbur to kill all the nasty people that wronged or rejected him!
"Death Mask" is undemanding and light-hearted fun, and sometimes that's all you wish for in a horror flick! James Best is probably most known for his role in "The Dukes of Hazzard", but he was also a modest B-movie star in the fifties and early sixties and starred in films like "The Killer Shrews" and a couple of "Twilight Zone" episodes. Forty years later he still isn't very good at acting, but hey, at least he's the star of the horror movie that he wrote himself. I'm also pleased to see Linnea Quigley in a leading role for a change! She usually just briefly appears and provides nudity, whereas here she's the female lead star and still provides nudity! That's why she was, is, and will forever remain the Queen of B-movie horror!
Unnecessary, as far as I'm concerned. "Death Mask" is the type of movie that you can't be too harsh for if you have a heart for horror. Despite being extremely cheap, terribly acted, poorly edited, and exclusively featuring cheesy DIY make-up effects, "Death Mask" honestly isn't such a bad film. It has what most horror movies released during the 1990s were lacking: a reasonably original plot and a devoted cast & crew. The setting is awesome, namely a shlocky carnival full of freaks, social rejects, and lewd strip dancers.
It is here that lonely and facially scarred Wilbur works as carver and exhibitor of creepy masks, and dreams of more success. His act is so outdated and unpopular that sleazy circus owner Guido wants to fire him. The gorgeous and good-hearted dancer Angel stands up for Wilbur and takes him to a witch in the nearby swamp. She gives Wilbur a log of wood from the infamous witch-hanging tree, and he carves the most nightmarishly realistic mask out of it. But the mask is more than just an exhibit. Once he puts on the mask, it empowers Wilbur to kill all the nasty people that wronged or rejected him!
"Death Mask" is undemanding and light-hearted fun, and sometimes that's all you wish for in a horror flick! James Best is probably most known for his role in "The Dukes of Hazzard", but he was also a modest B-movie star in the fifties and early sixties and starred in films like "The Killer Shrews" and a couple of "Twilight Zone" episodes. Forty years later he still isn't very good at acting, but hey, at least he's the star of the horror movie that he wrote himself. I'm also pleased to see Linnea Quigley in a leading role for a change! She usually just briefly appears and provides nudity, whereas here she's the female lead star and still provides nudity! That's why she was, is, and will forever remain the Queen of B-movie horror!