Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio |  | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.5 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
The Mask 3D Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 25, 2015
“The Mask” is an exercise in strangeness, but only in spurts. The 1961 Canadian production is a frustrating sit, alternating between static dramatic passages teeming with banal exposition and visits to a nightmare realm brought on by the wearing of a special cursed mask. Surreal horror meets television procedural in the mediocre feature, which carries an abundance of eeriness, encountered through the display of some truly unsettling visuals.
“The Mask” opens with a William Castle-style instructional prologue, greeting a mask expert to understand the rules of the movie, which requires special 3-D glasses when the main character puts on a deadly mask. The highlights of the film are found in these precious 14 minutes of screentime, which bathe the screen in macabre sights and disconcerting sounds, taking the audience to another realm of fear. The mask sequences are spectacular, blending performance art with ghoulish intensity, but they contrast harshly with the rest of the feature, which explores investigative encounters and concern from loved ones, with emotions and discoveries delivered as dryly as possible.
The Mask 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Mask" provides a look at terrific restoration efforts, with the feature refreshed and purposeful again. Black and white cinematography is balanced to satisfaction, with delineation open for study during intense shadow play. Grain is fine and filmic, while detail is superb, capturing odd textures on the mask and facial wounds, while the dream sequences provide many pauseable moments. Source is primarily clean, though 3-D scenes encounter a few rougher moments, with minor damage popping into view. The disc offers a 2-D presentation as well.
The Mask 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is primarily frontal in design, handling dialogue exchanges with adequate clarity, but still combating some crispy highs. Scoring is aggressive, supporting as intended, far more convincing when commanding the listening experience, adding some needed heaviness. The dream sequences trigger a broader soundscape, and while the effect isn't as dynamic as it could be, depth is welcomed, eased along by strange atmospherics and scoring.
The Mask 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features film historian Jason Pichonsky.
- "Julian Roffman: The Man Behind the Mask" (21:57, HD) is a brief overview of the director's career, with family and genre writers exploring his impact on the Canadian film industry.
- Anaglyph 3-D Sequences (16:07, HD) present a look at the original presentation of "The Mask."
- "One Night in Hell" (7:24, HD) is a 3-D short film, produced and scored by Brian May.
- "The Short Films of Slavko Vorkapich" offer "Abstract Experiments in Kodachrome" (2:22, HD), "Montage Sequences" (11:09, HD), and "The Life and Death of 9413" (4:10, HD).
- T.V. Spots (:51 and :28, HD) are provided.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (2:47, HD) and a Reissue Trailer (1:49, HD) are included.
The Mask 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"The Mask" is short, but it feels long, creating a desire to remain behind the titular nightmare machine, where the production shows the most creativity and comfort. Performances are professionally executed, but director Julian Roffman isn't one to build pace, leaving the feature deflated before it works up the nerve to return to evil. It's an uneven film, but for the mask sequences alone, it's worth a look.
