CIVIC TV

A glimpse into the world of cinematic horror and sci-fi.

Mask

Author: Serena Debegnach
Displaying an almost infinite variety of sizes and shapes, masks are designed to partially or totally cover the wearer's face, and have performed significant social, ceremonial, and practical roles in human cultures around the world since the dawn of time. From an ethnoanthropological viewpoint, masks have been a crucial part of magical and/or mystical rituals and ceremonies, while various cultures have employed masks in order to interact with the divine or spirit realms. More generally, masks have been used in a broad range of settings and situations, from the stage to the battlefield, from folklore to pastimes.

In the realm of genre movies - particularly horror - the mask is closely associated with the fear of the unseen, or, ultimately, the fear of the unknown. The inability to discern the true face behind the disguise only enhances the masked individual's duplicity and air of menace, arousing suspicion and unease, if not pure terror. This Tag assembles a vast range of films which share the presence of characters whose faces are covered or heavily made up, or who don full-scale costumes in order to obscure their identity. Finally, it's not uncommon to see characters forced to wear some sort of facial appliance following a conviction and/or punishment.

P.S. In the case of individuals dressed as clowns or scarecrows, this Tag will supplement the Tag already dedicated to those particular figures.

Examples

  • Cinema/Television: "Eyes without a Face" (Original title: "Les Yeux sans Visage", Georges Franju, 1960), "Halloween" (John Carpenter, 1978), "Predator" (John McTiernan, 1987).
  • Literature (fiction): "The Masque of the Red Death" (Edgar Allan Poe, 1842), "The Phantom of the Opera" (Original title: "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra", Gaston Leroux, 1910), "The Whisperer in Darkness" (H.P. Lovecraft, 1930).
  • Videogames: "Hotline Miami" (2012), "Dishonored" (2012), "Batman: Arkham Knight" (2015).

The table below includes only the films we’ve already reviewed, filtered by the current Tag. We know many important titles are still missing: they’ll come in time. Some features are reserved for our Patreon supporters.

TitleDirectorsYearScore
Blood and LacePhilip S. Gilbert19714.5
BruiserGeorge A. Romero20004.5
DemonsLamberto Bava19855
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed!Terence Fisher19697.5
Freddy Vs. JasonRonny Yu20036
Friday the 13th Part 2Steve Miner19814.5
GutterballsRyan Nicholson20084
HalloweenRob Zombie20076
Halloween IIRob Zombie20096.5
Kyoko Vs. YukiDaisuke Yamanouchi20003
Phantom of the OperaArthur Lubin19434.5
PredatorJohn McTiernan19877.5
Savage WeekendDavid Paulsen19795
ScreamWes Craven19967
Silent Night, Deadly NightCharles E. Sellier Jr.19843
SouthboundChad Villella, David Bruckner, Justin Martinez, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Patrick Horvath, Roxanne Benjamin, Tyler Gillett20156.5
Terror TrainRoger Spottiswoode19804
The Abominable Dr. PhibesRobert Fuest19716
The ComebackPete Walker19784
The Hypnotic EyeGeorge Blair19604
The Masque of the Red DeathRoger Corman19645
The Whisperer in DarknessSean Branney20115.5