Paper Mask (1990) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Christopher Morahan
Starring: Paul McGann, Amanda Donohoe, Frederick Treves
Rated: R/Region: 1/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from Scorpion Entertainment
With the papers of a young doctor who died in a deadly accident, the ambitious male nurse Matthew manages to get hired as a doctor in the causality department of an hospital in Bristol. Nurse Christine believes it’s only his nervousness, which makes him “forget” the most basic procedures. But even her help cannot prevent that his lack of qualification soon has deadly consequences…
Paper Mask if a film that does creep up on you in the creepy department. It starts off harmless enough as a story about a guy who takes someone’s misfortune and impersonates the person to land a job as a doctor. From there things start to creep darker and darker as he realizes he is way over his head, but decides to just play it off with some unknown help from a nurse and continue the charade. That would be enough to make for an interesting drama or maybe even a bit of a thriller, but as I noted before things just keep getting darker and creepier as things happen with dire consequences and then he goes to even greater lengths to keep his secret hidden. It isn’t a traditional horror, but it has enough to keep a horror fan happy. It works even better because it has a better story on top of that, which can be hard to find in stuff related to the genre.
The movie also has some really good acting with a complex character at the head. A character that never seems pure evil even after see him go deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. Good writing (this is based off a book) and good acting is only some of what this one has to offer up. I know some might think it drags in spots, but I didn’t seem to ever notice and I don’t recall ever checking the ol’ watch once while the film was on. While more thriller than horror, The film also has Amanda Donohoe as a nurse in a very important role and that is never a bad thing when you see her. I think Paper Mask is a movie horror fans can appreciate. I also think it is a film that makes you wonder just how qualified your doctor really is. Watch this movie and then think about that next time you find yourself at the E.R..
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