Masked Conspiracy

Alasdair Gretton's "gallows comedy" _«Masked Conspiracy»_ is fast-paced and gripping. From the outset, the visuals and soundtrack assault the viewer and hold them hostage until the end. The story is engaging and the reveals towards the end provide an unexpected twist. This is not a film for idle watching, nor for the faint-hearted (or, I suspect those with photo-sensitivity). Whilst not horrific compared with modern examples of the genre, there are some bloody scenes and disturbing imagery. The film's central character, "Angry Veteran" played by Callum Gascoyne is somewhat manic - think Samuel Barnett's portrayal of "Dirk Gently" in the 2016/17 adaptation. He takes us on a surreal ride through flashbacks and unexpected encounters with the other characters. His side-kick "Bill the Camera Man" played by Joe Lansley is no less odd. In fact, all of the characters - with the possible exception of the flashback scenes - are exaggerated and rather hyper-real. The whole film has a trippy, psychedelic feel to it. In terms, of style, it lives up to its "experimental" credentials. Throughout this film, the action is frequently interrupted with cutaways to newspaper and magazine-style headlines - and the more gory effects (including decapitation and mincemeat-like bloody remains) are reminiscent of "Super 8" … on acid. This, combined with the cartoon sound-effects give the feel of a live-action comic strip. The handheld camera-work maintains the energy and the editing - constantly using jarring effects - adds to the tension throughout. The editing is clever in places and the constant switching of viewpoints keeps you on your toes. The limited budget (estimated £2000 according to IMDb) shows, though, and sadly the acting which is a little amateur in places detracts from what is a rather fun film. Masked Conspiracy will most likely appeal to horror fans - particularly lovers of B-movies and low-budget productions. I'm looking forward to _«Dead on Distribution»_.