The Mask (1994)

Arrow Video are releasing, in limited edition Blu-ray and UHD sets, a 4K restoration from the original camera negative of the film that cemented Jim Carrey's star status and introduced the world to Cameron Diaz.

Mild-mannered bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey) thinks he sees someone drowning but it turns out to be some detritus washed into shore, crowned by an old wooden mask. Stanley, whose interests include old Tex Avery and Warner Bros. cartoons, finds that if he puts the mask on he becomes a living cartoon character himself, complete with an anything goes potential for whatever he becomes involved with, which includes villain Peter Greene and his gang of bank robbers.

When THE MASK came out in 1994 its use of CGI effects, combined with Jim Carrey's still-fresh manic acting style, made the film feel very modern indeed. Watching it now it's still extremely entertaining, but the production design, acting, storyline, and above all the cartoonish HELLZAPOPPIN' style now lends it much more of an out of time, retro feel - a 1930s animated short given a live action 1990s makeover. Of course that means anyone loving this film (and there's a lot to love) will hopefully be moved to check out the Tex Avery cartoons that were their inspiration.

Arrow's disc comes packed with extras, including two commentary tracks, one with director Chuck Russell and the second with Russell, New Line Cinema head honcho (at the time) Bob Shaye, and six other members of the crew. New extras include interviews with Russell (21 minutes), screenwriters Mike Werb and Mark Verheiden and creator Mike Richardson (18 minutes), VFX supervisor Scott Squires (14 minutes), editor Arthur Coburn (7 minutes), actress Amy Yasbeck (13 minutes), choreographer Jerry Evans (10 minutes) and a video essay on Jack Russell terriers in cinema (10 minutes).

Archival extras ported over from previous releases include a couple of makings of (27 and 3 minutes), 5 minutes of cast interviews, 13 minutes on Cameron Diaz, and 10 minutes on dog training in Hollywood. Best of all is a 13 minute piece on Tex Avery's influence on the film, and two deleted scenes, one of which is the original opening where Vikings have travelled to 'the ends of the earth' to get rid of the mask, accompanied by Joseph LoDuca's music from ARMY OF DARKNESS. Finally, the set comes with a reversible sleeve, booklet, poster and six art cards. 

Chuck Russell's THE MASK is out from Arrow on 4K in limited Blu-ray and UHD editions on Monday 10th November 2025