10 Magnificent Movie Masks

Ah yes, the mask: a symbol of the Dramatic Arts, a valuable tool for the actor, a disguise to shield your identity from your victims/loved ones/law enforcement/Sally Field. In modern culture it feels most strongly associated to superheroes and weapon-wielding maniacs -- I got some of those here, but in choosing my absolute favorites masks it's made clear that everybody's got something to hide (up to and including who's really The Walrus). 

- Paul

Eyes Wide Shut

Just gonna go ahead and get this one right outta the way. I could do a book on these (I'm sure there are already several) and all the different styles and names they're given (The Picasso, The Jolly, The Plague Doctor, even The "Ryan O'Neal") but the one that stands out contextually is The Bauta, who nods at Bill and then later it's implies that he tattles on him. I have to go over there and show my face. 

3 Ninjas

We bring this movie up a lot on this site, usually to dump on it - even as a kid I found it embarrassing and rarely had a desire to revisit it. But what did stay with me, and still does, are these Oni masks worn by the 3 Ninjas. Like Eyes Wide Shut I think I was most attracted to the variety and how they all looked different. (I'd point out how each mask is best suited to each character's personality but you know I’d be making that up.) 

Dick Tracy

I'll always own up to my folly that I originally thought that The Blank's face was just his(?) face and not a mask; the movie is populated by gangsters with cartoonish facial deformities, so why not a character without any features at all? It was admittedly a letdown when it was revealed it was a mask, but then my life just became about wanting that damn mask (or at least the damn action figure). 

Nightbreed

Out of all the masked killers in Horror Cinema, leave it to Clive Barker to create the creepiest one, and leave it to David Cronenberg to wear it. It's funny that 80% of this movie is over the top far out fantasy, but the 20% Slasher portion with Dr. Decker is unsettlingly realistic. Dream Halloween costume (after The Blank)!

Demons

Clearly just for decorative purposes, and rightly so; this mask (which implicitly belonged to Nostradamus) causes a severe allergic reaction when it comes in contact with the bloodstream. So be careful because that shit is pointy!

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Another choice that's as plain as the nose on your face, but today I'm here to pick a favorite of the three Silver Shamrock Halloween Masks. Honestly, each one is only as good as the costume that goes with it -- I've been a longtime fan of Dr. Challis's Skull/plaid/Members Only Jacket ensemble, but as my tastes have matured, the skateboarding ballerina with the Pumpkin mask goes too hard to ignore. 

Magical Mystery Tour

There were obviously no limits as to how many goofy costumes Paul could talk his bandmates into wearing. However, as weird as this choice was, they managed to make it weirder with various morbid and literary subtexts. (The Walrus is, in fact, not a symbol of death in any culture's folklore.) 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

If we're gonna say Shredder wears a "helmet" (I would) then the "coolest mask" falls on Casey Jones. Looking nothing at all like the most famous Cinematic Hockey Mask of that moment, and only vaguely resembling its depiction in the comics, it sorta looks like The Punisher logo (which was once intimidating before it became misappropriated by a decidedly unintimidating demographic).

Point Break

Every once in a while I'm reminded that they remade this movie in the past 10 years or so. I'll never see it, but learning that the Ex Presidents masks don't make an appearance is probably what helps me disregard its existence entirely. There was nothing that wasn't cool about the 1991 original, but these masks made the whole thing next level. 

Mrs. Doubtfire

Never mind that Robin Williams was probably my favorite actor/comedian/person in 1993, the most exciting thing in this movie for me (and for every other kid who was obsessed with makeup effects) was the whole latex mask business. The fact that they took the time to share the step by step makeup chair process with the audience made this otherwise not-believable movie that much more believable.