Death Mask (1998)

Death Mask: Directed by Steve Latshaw. With James Best, Linnea Quigley, John Nutten, Brigitte Hill. Wilbur works in an old carnival and shows some gruesome things to the puplic. He covered his face because he had a sadistic father who burned his face. Everybody makes jokes about his scars and when the new boss fired him, he go to an old swamp-witch who gives him a peace of wood from a hanging tree and Wilbur makes a mask from this piece of wood and put all his anger in this mask. When he puts the mask on, everybody who looks on this mask commits suicide. He has created the Death-Mask.

“If youu0026#39;re like me, you grew up in the fetid decade known as u0026quot;The Eightiesu0026quot;, and every Friday night of your adolescence was spent watching the hit action adventure show u0026quot;The Dukes of Hazzardu0026quot;. 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 Bestu0026#39;s performance has stayed with me all these years.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo 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 u0026quot;Return of the Living Deadu0026quot;, also had her name above the title.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI 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; thereu0026#39;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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDid I mention that people get killed in this movie? They do.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis 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?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo anyway: This film is a fascinating look into what one beloved TV star considers his u0026quot;great roleu0026quot;. Itu0026#39;s amazing! So I recommend this as a curiosity. As a good movie…. no. Curiosity, yes.”