Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon was slept on by many horror fans upon release, but has built up a cult fandom in the fifteen years since for how it knowingly skewers genre tropes while still respecting their place in the mythology.
Set in a world where bad guys like Jason and Freddie are in fact real, the film focuses on would-be slasher villain Leslie Vernon as he prepares his first killing spree. A documentary crew, led by intrigued young journalist Taylor, follows Vernon as he explains his plans to them, even analyzing the necessity of a "survivor girl" who'll be the one to confront him. The running gag of the film of course is that Vernon is a seemingly nice, personable man who also wants to be a movie monster. This means it's up to the crew to decide whether to stop him or become part of the rise of Leslie Vernon.
Featuring a disarming performance from lead actor Nathan Baesel and a deeply satisfying third act twist, Behind The Mask is definitely a cut above your average slasher film. It's currently available to stream on both Amazon Prime and Shudder.
