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Arrow Video has become the Blu-ray distributor for ’90s hits lately, and its next release is smokin’. That’s right, The Mask is getting a new 4K Blu-ray restoration and it’s now available to preorder for $60 ahead of its November 11 release. We’re expecting this price to drop before then–just look at Lost in Space as an example here–and it also comes with several cool physical extras.
$60 | Releases November 11
Released in 1994, The Mask was one of three blockbusters starring Jim Carrey that year, cementing his status as the next breakout star in Hollywood. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Carrey pulling off the role as mild-mannered Stanley Ipkiss and his zany counterpart as successfully as he did, as the comedic actor’s talent for delivering laughs and his malleable face were key factors in the film’s success. Directed by Chuck Russell, The Mask was a big gamble for distributor New Line Cinema, but it paid off handsomely with an impressive box office haul of $351 million at the time.
The popularity of the film led to an animated series adaptation, and a few years later, a sequel was made that we’d really really like to forget about.
This new version of The Mask is a 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Video that was approved by Russell himself. The 4K edition supports High Dynamic Range–Dolby Vision and HDR10–as well as lossless stereo, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound, and a new Dolby Atmos mix.
Like other Arrow Video releases, the Limited Edition comes with a reversible sleeve and cover art: One side has the original theatrical poster featuring Carrey’s toothy grin, while the other is a simple but striking shot of the Mask as he prepares to P-A-R-T-Y. You’ll also find an illustrated booklet with commentary from author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and original production notes, a double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options, and six postcard-sized reproduction art cards.
The Mask Limited Edition Bonus Materials
New Features
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and original production notes
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options
- Six postcard-sized reproduction art cards
- The Man Behind the Mask, a newly filmed interview with Chuck Russell
- From Strip to Screen, a newly filmed interview with Mike Richardson, Mike Werb and Mark Verheiden
- Green Faces Blue Screens, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor Scott Squires
- Sssssssplicin’!, a newly filmed interview with editor Arthur Coburn
- Ask Peggy, a newly filmed interview with actor Amy Yasbeck
- Toeing the Conga Line, a newly filmed interview with choreographer Jerry Evans featuring never-before-seen rehearsal footage
- Terriermania, a new video essay by critic Elizabeth Purchell on canine sidekick Milo
More Bonus Features
- Archive audio commentary with Chuck Russell
- Archive audio commentary with Chuck Russell, New Line co-chairman Bob Shaye, screenwriter Mike Werb, executive producer Mike Richardson, producer Bob Engelman, ILM VFX supervisor Scott Squires, animation supervisor Tom Bertino and cinematographer John R.
- Archival featurettes Return to Edge City, Introducing Cameron Diaz, Cartoon Logic, What Makes Fido Run, The Making Of, on-set interview bites with the cast and director and B-Roll footage
- Deleted scenes, with optional commentary by director Chuck Russell
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
Like the film? Then check out the original The Mask comics
The Mask was an adaptation of the comic book miniseries of the same name published by Dark Horse Comics. While the film was lighthearted and played like a live-action Looney Tunes cartoon whenever Jim Carrey donned the ancient relic, the comics it was adapted from were much darker in comparison and featured more over-the-top graphic violence. While Jim Carrey’s version of Stanley Ipkiss is a lovable loser with a heart of gold, the comic book version isn’t nearly as likable, and once he gets his hands on the mask, he quickly uses its power to brutally exact revenge on everyone who harmed him.
Some of these scenes made it into the movie, albeit toned down. For example, the mechanics who extort Ipkiss in the film are humiliated by his alter-ego, but in the comics, they meet a gruesome end at his hands. Other characters are gunned down in cold blood and the book doesn’t have a happy ending for Ipkiss. If you’d like to see just how absurdly violent the original comic is, you can pick it up right now as part of The Mask Omnibus Edition for just $23.62 (was $30). After the film became a blockbuster hit, more comic books were produced under several creative teams, but nothing beats the original mini-series by John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke, as it’s a grim tale about revenge and how absolute power corrupts absolutely.
New & Upcoming Arrow Video Limited Edition 4K Blu-rays
The Mask is just the proverbial tip of the 4K Blu-ray spear for Arrow Video, as the company has several other cult-classics on the way. Sci-fi fans can grab the newly released 4K Blu-ray restoration of Lost in Space, the 1997 live-action adaptation of Spawn releases soon and there’s plenty of horror on the way as well. Creepshow 2, the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness, and Ringu are all coming out soon, giving fans of the genre a varied selection of movies to collect ahead of Halloween.
All of the movies listed below are Limited Edition 4K Blu-rays and have been organized the list by release date.
