12 Most Overlooked Horror Films Since 2000

2. Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2006)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t432rePirH8 Behind The Mask is the movie that Scream 4 should have been: a hip, smart deconstruction of slasher movie conventions that never becomes twee or repetitive. It€™s a simple premise, and a damn cute one: psycho Leslie Vernon (Nathan Baesel) invites a documentary crew to follow him around as he chooses, stalks and kills his prey in the town of Glen Echo. Being little more than a killer shark, he of course has a €œCaptain Ahab€, in this case an embittered shrink named Doc Halloran (Robert Englund), whose resemblance to Donald Pleasence€™s character in Halloween is purely intentional. There are bigger-budgeted (and therefore €œbetter€) slasher movies out there, but they don€™t have an ounce of Behind The Masks€™ wit and invention. Not only was the film released with zero fanfare, but it was quickly buried beneath the remakes of Halloween, Prom Night, April Fools€™ Day, Friday The 13th and My Bloody Valentine. Now there€™s irony for you.
Contributor

Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'