Behind the Mask: The Batman Dead End Story (2015) User Reviews

A making-of that's better than the movie

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 22 June 2018]

I'm as surprised as anybody that there's a hundred-minute documentary about an 8-minute short film. On the surface, at least. The production of "Batman: Dead End" occupies a fraction of this film, and the rest is a character study of its director, Sandy Collora. And warts-and-all is an understatement. Collora fancies himself a fighter in a battle to bring his visions to the masses, while those around him perceive him as . . . kind of a dick. I'm conflicted on where I stand on the man, but he has his supporters, and their admiration feels genuine. I was more interested in the man than I was in the Batman movie, and that's saying something.

Fanfilms were a joke til Batman: Dead End came around

[brianrosenthal82 · 8/10 · 11 July 2015]

Batman: Dead End is a uniquely amazing fanfilm. Gorgeous production design, solid direction, wonderful cinematography, fantastic practical FX, and so many geek-out moments it's hard to even keep track. If you haven't seen it, I urge you to check it out, its still all over YouTube to this day. Sandy Collora (the director), an industry vet and director's chair hopeful, put together a serious chunk of his own change back in the early 2000s, and assembled a team of highly talented folks within the industry to carry out his vision of an unapologetically comic-book inspired Batman pitted against some of geekdom's greatest icons. This documentary explores what drove him to do it, how it was done, the highs, the lows, and the fallout/aftermath of the whole thing. As a hopeful filmmaker myself, this became my "Star Wars"... a film that inspired me and opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. All I knew was "this was done independently, it's on the internet for everyone to see, and it's freakin amazing". My own fanfilm, "Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness", owes a great debt of gratitude to Sandy and Batman: Dead End. Without his film, mine wouldn't exist, and neither would thousands of others, I suspect. Credit where credit's due, Sandy Collora is the George Lucas of fanfilms, and I mean that with the utmost respect. As the documentary reveals, he might not have catapulted into Hollywood stardom as hoped, but he pioneered the trail and inspired a generation of us. Definitely worth a watch, especially for budding filmmakers.

Inspiring documentary about a true iconoclast and maverick artist, storyteller and director..

[spryarnaud · 7/10 · 15 July 2015]

I liked this film a lot. It was a very interesting and revealing documentary about someone who I have respect for a long time. In 2003, Sandy Collora made a short film that had Batman against the Joker, aliens and the Predator. It owned SDCC that summer and was an overnight sensation and propelled the brash director into the Hollywood stratosphere. This is as complete a story as anyone could tell about the phenomenon that was "Batman Dead End" and its creator Sandy Collora. It was much more than I expected, Its very detailed and covers a lot of ground. It shows how powerful an artist Collora really is in every way. He made Batman cool again and showed WB the way. He still is the only director to ever put a real Batman on the screen right out of the comics. The studios with all their money still can't get it right. Neil Adams agrees in the documentary. This movie is very inspiring and anyone who wants to be a movie maker or artist needs to see this. It should be required viewing in film schools. I am looking forward to THE CIRCLE!

My only 2 gripes are the camera work is not good with the people being interviewed constantly going in and out of focus is totally distracting and not necessary. And why was Sean Clark in this film? Norman Reedus was not in Batman Dead End. What did he have to do with any of this and why are his opinions concerned? Maybe he is friends with the film makers. 7/10 is my rating. If they hired someone to focus the camera it would have been 8 or 9.

Perfect for ME on a DAILY, bro...

[theelyoueye · 10/10 · 19 July 2015]

Let me tell you something bro. I joined this site just to rate this incredible movie on a DAILY, bro. I saw this movie the batman's dead end on the internet like 10 years ago, bro. I salute this movie and the guy who made it, SanDY on a DAILY Collora, bro. He made the best Batman movie ever you can see ON A DAILY, baby please! This man needs to be SALUTED! Seriously this documentary about it is fantastic, bro. If you are a Batman fan like me, on a daily, you will really, really like this film and find it very interesting. I give Collora a lot of props, bro. The guy follows his dreams and passions on a DAILY!!! This is a movie that can be inspiring to anyone who is going after a dream because it shows how hard work and putting the time, can make the dream come true. Another guy who needs to be saluted is MR.ERIC DOW. He makes the BEST documentarRY on a DAILY, bro! You can watch it for FREE, right here on IMDb on a DAILY. Check it out. I am betting all of the movies the man is developing in this documentary will become real and we will see them very soon, bro. THE CIRCLE IN 3D ON A DAILY!!!!!!!!

A cautionary tale

[trey-yancy-572-763547 · 6/10 · 12 October 2020]

This is the ultimate tale of a sociopathic genius who is just dripping with talent but whose astonishingly gigantic ego and inability to relate to the workings of the system caused him to totally shoot himself down in flames, blaming everyone but himself for his utter and complete failure.

One spends the first two thirds of the film remarking on how smart and talented this guy is and the final third remarking on what an idiot he is. There is something Shakespearean about this movie. A tragedy of King Macbat.

Incrdible!

[jordyjooz · 10/10 · 16 July 2015]

Who is making this documentary of Collora? This is fantastic and a miracle to receive this film! Collora is making the wonderful films and can be celebrating!! Is a documentary about films and art but really is concentrating on the human spirit and a good man who is an example for others in wanting to follow his paths. This did touch my heart very much and makes good feelings for the man with the best batman internet movie in all times!! Very sad when Collora is talking about his mother and the great man who was teaching him art. Is also very funny at times when Collora is telling stories of his life in the movies business and very entertaining man!! This documentary movie can be about batman and really the most important thing in life which I believe to be the human heart. I am very happy to see this movie. Thank you, Jordyn.

How hard it can be making movies.

[bamicp · 10/10 · 14 July 2015]

The amazing inside story, about the most iconic short film ever. This documentary tells the story of Sandy Collora a special effects artist trying to become a movie director.

I did not have a hard time watching this, it felt sincere, heartfelt, and real. If you want to know more about special-effects, what it takes to make movies, and how much drive you have to become a movie director; watch this movie. If you want to support independent movies, watch this movie. If you have seen the short film Batman: dead-end, watch this film. If your a fan of alien, watch this movie. If your a fan of predator, watch this movie. If you seen Hunter Prey, watching this movie. If you're a fan of Comic books and art, watch this movie. Sandy Collora will motivate you just by watching him and his drive for success.

Great Story And Character Study

[Waysender · 9/10 · 3 April 2016]

I've watched this multiple times and it still interests me. It's the story of a group of guys making a fan film with the intention of launching the career of their leader Sandy Collora.

The whole process is really neat to see and I credit the film maker of this documentary with his story telling ability.

The short film they make (Batman: Dead End) gets a tremendous amount of buzz and the assumption was that Sandy would go on to get a major study deal. What follows is an absolute train wreck. Every aspiring director should watch this documentary to learn what not to do.

I think Sandy Collora is a very creative and talented guy. But if you pressed me to describe him in one sentence it would be "He's Kanye West without the hit records." He passes on movies he deems as garbage showing no respect for other people in his chosen profession while at the same time promoting his own stories and scripts which is all but impossible until you really prove yourself in the industry. For a guy who is in his mid 30s to just say, "ok I'm gonna write and direct films now" with no practical experience and expect things to get handed to him is painfully naïve.

Several people in the film also allude to Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy as if they inspired him, also that Heath Ledger's Joker was directly ripped from the guy who played the Joker in this short film which is pure insanity. I mean really. lol I highly recommend watching this documentary, it's on Hulu Plus atm.

Moving

[sexynails · 11 July 2015]

I saw the Batman Dead End short when it came out but had no idea what was "Behind the Mask" of this movie and this man. This Docu is a sort of brutal look into what happens behind the scenes and what it takes to make a film. I admire Sandy Collora's honesty, artistic integrity and his talent. All things this movie clearly shows. I follow him on Facebook and his posts are always inspiring and thought provoking. he seems like a good guy. This was really good and very well made interesting Docu that I recommend a lot. It has a lot of heart and is a very moving portrait of an artist who seems to be misunderstood. I salute Sandy and his work and his decisions. He obviously cares about what he puts out there and on the screen and it shows. I hope all the projects he has developing at the end of this film are going to happen. I would go to see them.