Masque

At first glance Masque looks like a typical Western, in which the good guy is bested by the bad guy only to ultimately prevail because right is on his side. However, this short film goes a level deeper—skin deeper and more. Masque puts a unique spin on bad guy Colorado McBride, deftly played by Richard Losee. That the villain; paradoxically the antagonist as well as the protagonist, becomes his own hero lies at the heart of the film, adapted from an 1896 novella by Sir Henry Maximillian Beerbohm.

Embodied by famed character actor Wilford Brimley, the Maskmaker creates symbols of promise, not simply a façade to hide behind. Colorado decides to create his masked alter ego because of the charming Grace, superbly played by Lauren Holley, who nurses him back to health when she finds him left for dead. The new mask creates a shocking contrast in Colorado, a prizefighting henchman whose real face mirrors the ravages of his dark past.

Masque is a film that succeeds in carrying off its message of second chances. It's a refreshing morality tale that offers superb production values. A wide spectrum of audiences will definitely find viewing satisfaction in Masque's ageless appeal.