COLLECTOR'S CRYPT -THE BLACK MASS (CLEOPATRA BLU-RAY)
True crime and serial killers are the guiltiest of our collective pleasures. It is the closest that people can get to observing and (attempting) to understand why and how some of the most dangerous people alive work. These morbid stories weave in first-hand accounts, investigators, reporters, victims, and survivors’ families to weave a tapestry of real-life terror that demonstrates what the most damaged of us are capable of. One of the most prolific is Ted Bundy, a man who for most needs no introduction. He confessed to 30 murders and was likely responsible for many more. From the Netflix series to the Zac Efron movie, there have been many iterations of Bundy’s murderous exploits, but few if any have focused on his most brutal rampage. Long-time genre star Devanny Pinn makes her directorial debut with The Black Mass, a true crime-inspired thriller that blends fact and fiction. Is this a new take on an old story, or just a mass you’d rather not attend?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A true-crime thriller inspired by real events, The Black Mass is set over 24 hours in Florida during the winter of 1978. The film follows a serial killer in the days leading up to his final, unhinged rampage, providing a disturbing and terrifying look into the warped psyche of a notorious murderer, as well as the ramifications of his violence for those who fell victim to it, and for those who survived.
HOW IS IT?
From the very start of “The Black Mass” (Black Mass for short), there is a sense of unease and familiarity. In regards to the former, the voyeuristic vibe that permeates much of the film’s shots and aesthetics is on full display. You are placed in the shoes of someone who you know is going to do awful things, and you have no choice but to go along with the eventuality ahead of you. For the latter, Black Mass seems to be at least marginally influenced by some of the slasher genre's best tropes and films. These inspirations and nods are never overbearing and often subtle enough to pass by the less-engaged or aware viewer without even a whiff of having missed something. The topic matter is grim, and the film doesn’t shy away from the more graphic details, but through it all this is a solid piece of horror filmmaking that goes from slow-burn to fiery explosion.
Black Mass makes some assumptions about the audience, specifically that they have even a vague awareness of Ted Bundy and his crimes. Taking place over 24 hours we mostly follow Bundy as he makes his way into a Florida college town which will be the home of his most infamous crimes. We here at the crypt are not experts on Bundy or this particular murder in detail, so we can’t say to what extent liberties were taken with the facts of the matter. The thing is, none of that matters to enjoy the movie. Black Mass feels like it is melding a true crime premise with the plotting of Maniac, the location of Black Christmas, and the aesthetic of Halloween. We cannot say whether or not these nods are intentional or if we are just filling in blanks, but none of it ever becomes distracting or obvious. Much of the credit can be given to Pinn, who demonstrates her experience working in front of the camera has translated into a keen understanding of how to operate behind it. While none of the cinematography stands out, it also serves an even more important purpose by keeping you focused on what is happening onscreen and not distracted by flashy angles or shots. If there is one downside, it is with the audio. It sounds as if there may have been some ADR work done on some scenes and on Ted’s dialogue at times, and those moments while infrequent do take you out of the moment.
What helps to sell the bleakness of the real-life-inspired actions in Black Mass are the performances and the effects. Even though we only spend 24 hours with a varied group of characters, every single person feels real and reflective of the period as well as the mannerisms. When it comes to the death and sexual assault scenes near the end the effectiveness of those moments is directly attributed to the actors. These are genuinely terrifying moments that are uncomfortable, but never exploitative or in poor taste. The death scenes in particular use long, steady shots to put you in a Clockwork Orange-like trance where you can’t look away even though you want to. It should be said that a trigger warning applies to those who have difficulty watching scenes of extreme sexual violence and rape, please be advised. Making films about such sensitive and gruesome history requires a delicate balance, and everyone involved does a great job of never taking advantage of the responsibility to entertain without dishonoring the victims. Overall, Black Mass is an innovative cross-section of true crime and slasher films that is efficient and entertaining for those who can bear with the dark material contained within.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Black Mass is a recent release (2023) so the picture quality is as pristine as it gets for digital these days! Visually the film has a 70s aesthetic with lots of warm tones to match the Florida backdrop. These colors come through clearly and are balanced out by the night scenes which favor a far darker color scheme consisting of shades of black and red.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
The audio is something of a mystery in Black Mass as it is all over the place. Some scenes definitely feel as if there was some ADR applied in post-production, and those scenes stand out since the levels of the dialogue sound like they are in the red in parts. The problem isn’t the fault of the audio transfer on the disc so much as it is one from the production process. Still, the 5.1 surround soundtrack included is sufficient and the issues don’t detract too much from the viewing experience. There is one glaring omission that really dings this disc, and that’s the lack of any sort of subtitles.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
For this release of Black Mass, the only special features are the ones listed below.
Bonus Materials
Trailer
Slide show
LAST RITES
The Black Mass is a novel take on the most infamous murders of one of the most infamous serial killers of all time. While it takes a bit to get going, it puts you in a stranglehold as soon as it does that is filled with some gnarly gore and shocking violence. A worthwhile recommendation for all true crime and slasher fans!
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at MVD ENTERTAINMENT for providing a review copy for the crypt! The Black Mass is available NOW and can be purchased via MVD DIRECT!
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