66
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Film ThreatEric CamposFilm ThreatEric CamposFortunately, the filmmakers have quite a few clever tricks up their sleeves, bringing us a smart, refreshing an affectionate skewering of a celebrated genre.
- 80VarietyJoe LeydonVarietyJoe LeydonAn ingeniously twisted mockumentary.
- 80L.A. WeeklyScott FoundasL.A. WeeklyScott FoundasAt its best, Behind the Mask offers some, um, cutting insights about mass-media blood lust and the cult of the serial killer, and in Baesel, who is by turns charming, manic and thoroughly scary, it has a gifted young actor who clearly relishes a role he can sink his pitchfork into.
- Behind the Mask is original and weirdly delicious, and executed with gory aplomb.
- 70Washington PostStephen HunterWashington PostStephen HunterThe movie has more cleverness than violence, and its breakdown of cliches is vivid and witty. Baesel is an extraordinary presence, holding the film together with his mesmerizing performance, charm and openness, and Goethals measures up to him.
- 67Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovA poke in the eye of genre convention with a flensing blade and a disarmingly charming razor-blade grin.
- 50New York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinNew York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinWorking in a mini-genre whose bones would appear to have been picked clean by the likes of Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven, Glosserman and Stieve find a few pints of fresh blood.
- 50Village VoiceVillage VoiceDesperately overcompensating for the fact that most horror films are already parodies of themselves, Behind the Mask takes a bite out of the dumb "Scream" franchise before devouring its own tail, proving that you are what you eat.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckMost of this is fairly predictable spoofing, and Englund is wasted as a psycho-hunting shrink clearly modeled after Donald Pleasence's character in "Halloween." But there are moments when the proceedings are unsettling and original.