Unmasked Part 25 Blu-ray Review

Jackson is something of a celebrity, yet he does not crave fame nor does he care to socialize. Jackson is a hideously disfigured homicidal maniac who stalks the city of London wearing a hockey mask and a long black trench coat. His murders are numerous and have inspired a series of films called Hand of Death that he purportedly stars in. The long-running franchise has spawned two dozen sequels and show little sign of slowing down as long as he continues to kill. What Jackson needs is to be loved. During his latest bloodbath, he slaughters five out of six young adults attending a party. It is when he approaches his final girl of the evening that he meets Shelly, a blind woman who mistakes him for her absentee date and the two hit it off.

Shelly invites Jackson to her apartment where they relax, talk and make love. Jackson is taken by her kindness and lack of judgment. He feels free to open up to her and reveal his sensitive side, reciting Byron and Shakespeare. They fall madly in love and Jackson strives to be a better man, as lately he finds his profession as a serial killer tedious. Drawing inspiration from Shelly’s strength of character Jackson attempts to turn over a new leaf, but fate has other plans for him and soon he is back in the killing business.

Unmasked Part 25 (aka Hand of Death) is a horror-romantic comedy hybrid from the 1980s that satirizes the slasher subgenre. Taking aim at the Friday the 13th franchise and its ilk, the makers of this picture take a fresh approach by humanizing the villain and making him the hero. Jackson was raised to be a killer and excels at the task with originality and style. He is really good at his job but is growing bored of the routine and finds the process pointless. It is the introduction of Shelly into his life that brings him fresh inspiration, one of hope and change.

Director Anders Palm (Murder Blues) and writer/ producer Mark Cutforth (Blast ‘Em) create a refreshing and thoughtful meditation on the slasher film. The premise is inspired by Frankenstein and Beauty and the Beast and focuses on richly drawn characters balanced by moments of extreme violence and gory mayhem. The film has a pitch-black sense of humor and contains its share of surprises as our anti-hero strives to change his ways. Gregory Cox (Making a Killing) stars as Jackson, the sensitive psycho prone to poetry. He delivers a touching performance that shines even through his heavy prosthetic make-up. Fiona Evans (Gems) is the beautiful Shelly, the inspiration for a new life. She and Cox work really well together and their budding relationship feels natural and promising.

As well-written as the romance angle is, horror fans will be happy to know that Jackson remains a brutal mass murderer. He stalks his victims in cinematic fashion and delivers punishing justice for their indiscretions. The gore is over-the-top and accomplished with plenty of blood and guts to satisfy. Unmasked Part 25 was written by a Canadian, directed by a Swede and carries a very British sense of humor. The film plays as something of a precursor to the self-referential style that became popular in the 1990s. If you’re looking for a love story with a body count, this is definitely one you should have in your collection.