Le visage du danger

With the luxury of writing this review in real-time while watching this film on television I should have the luxury of remembering any good parts. Unfortunately, there are none to be found here. The only remarkable thing about this film is that it uncategorizable -- it can't be considered a drama as everything is too predictable to be dramatic, it can't be called an action pic as the "action sequences" are hokey and unbelievable. It could be considered a crime picture as it's a crime that anyone wasted the resources to produce, market and broadcast this turkey. Lamas and Williams come off more smarmy than urbane, Rae Dawn Chong is not the hottie she used to be, the cop dialog is stilted and awkward and the production values are unremarkable and veritably scream Direct-To-Video. This film's only value is as a "How-To" guide for prospective B-movie directors. Run, Don't Walk to Avoid This Movie.

Lamas has dual roles as Det Dan McKenna and Russian Mafia liaison Lyle Mason. An FBI surveillance gone wrong gets McKenna's wife killed but not before she takes Mason with her. FBI agent( Billy Dee Williams) notices that Mason and McKenna look alike and with a little help from plastic surgery McKenna becomes Mason. Pain killers that seem to have the side effect of causing McKenna to become violent help to keep the charade going. The violence is never ending - the story line takes a back seat - and Lamas shows off all the right martial art moves.The ending looked like they were hoping for a sequel but it never happened.

Lorenzo Lamas plays dual roles, one as a cop and the other as a crook. When the cop is severely wounded trying to apprehend the look-a-like crook, the cop is asked to be facially altered to stop set up the mobsters in question for Billy Dee Williams to take to justice in this surprisingly decent Canadian actioner. This would be a great B.movie if it didn't have Lorenzo Lamas. Lamas is merely competent, when someone like Van Damme or Lundgren could've made the role much more complex and likable. That said Lamas is okay, but the Deep Cover-inspired plot, and the Face-Off like subplot fails to live up to the potential that has been set up by the premise. That said the action sequences are well conducted, the story moves at a fast clip and the acting by Billy Dee Williams, Rae Dawn Chong and Conrad Dunn (great as the baddie) elevate this above sheer mediocrity. Also the beginning which showcases Lamas, in which he looks like Jeff Foxworthy is unintentionally hilarious and it ruins what suspense might've been had, as the wig and beard basically make one crack up more than anything else. Mask Of Death is a slightly better than average actioner, in-spite of Lamas and genuine suspense in the finale makes this a far better movie than one would expect. A B.movie but a pretty good one, all the same.

* *1/2 Out Of 4-(Pretty Good)

This movie sets a bad example for society. In "Mask of Death" shallow, ruthless characters hurt other people just to succeed. It's another lame story about greed, money and power. There's an excessive amount of violence and the characters are underdeveloped. The bad acting and direction don't help the movie either. The whole movie is typical low budget trash and has nothing that makes it worth watching.

Predictable, generic cop fare notable only for the many direct similarities to John Woo's Face/Off, which debuted subsequently. The initial sequences, from the speedboat chases to the plastic surgery sessions, are beat for beat the same. Lamas is adequate as the police infiltrator with revenge on his mind. A lot of violence and little plot. Two stars.