Not to be confused with the Jim Carrey film of the same name, The Mask is a mind-blowing 3-D horror flick from Canada that was originally released in 1961. The film concerns a psychiatrist who takes custody of an Aztec mask that gives whoever wears it weird three-dimensional visions. But when the doctor becomes addicted to the mask’s nightmarish world, he becomes consumed by madness himself. Much like the similarly creepy Carnival of Souls this is an under-the-radar horror gem that truly stands out thanks to memorable performances from lead actors Paul Stevens, Claudette Nevins, and Bill Walker, as well as the genuinely disturbing 3-D segments of the film that transport viewers into a world of psychedelic terror. Because it was released by several distributors over the years under names like Eyes from Hell, Face of Fire, and The Spooky Movie Show, you may have seen this classic flight flick and not have realized it. An impressive collector’s edition that is now available should find the film the larger audience it so deserves. So what do you say? Are you ready to put The Mask on now?
This article originally ran in 2017 and is being reprinted for this week’s Throwback Thursday post!