Episode 199 - The History of Masks in Folklore and Horror: Part 2

In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the folklore behind masks, from ancient legends and seasonal traditions to the myths that gave rise to some of horror's most unforgettable imagery.

Discover how masks have been used to ward off evil spirits, conceal identities, represent supernatural beings, and blur the line between the human and the unknown. Then, we trace how these age-old beliefs found new life in horror, inspiring some of the genre's most iconic masked villains.

Join us as we uncover the folklore that continues to shape horror to this day.

Sources

• The-noh.com article: Introducing the world of noh masks
• A Minneapolis Institute of Art article on African Masks and Masquerade 
• Thorn and Vine article: Krampus in The Alps 
• A paper from Shorehaven Behavioral Health: The Curious and Fascinating Psychology of Wearing Masks
• The Wikipedia entry on the False Face Society

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Hello,

From History To Folklore

SPEAKER_02 0:19

everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Lunatics Radio Emmer podcast. My name is Abby Brinker. I'm sitting here with Alan Coudin.

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Hello.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

And last week we talked about physical masks from history, from plague doctor masks to carnival and death masks. This week we're getting into the folklore associated with masks from different cultures, the psychology of masks, and how they eventually translated to horror. First, let's start with our sources. There's an article from theno.com introducing the world of no masks, a Minneapolis Institute of Art article on African masks and masquerade.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Oh, thank goodness, because I feel like Africa is like the the the hub of masks in the world.

SPEAKER_02 1:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

And I know nothing about it.

SPEAKER_02 1:05

We're gonna get into it. A Thorn and Vine article, Krampus in the Alps, a paper from Shorehaven Behavioral Health, The Curious and Fascinating Psychology of Wearing Masks, and in this case, a Wikipedia entry on the False Face Society.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Uh not only do we get to learn about African masks, which fascinates me quite a bit, but Krampus is gonna make an appearance?

SPEAKER_02 1:27

He always does.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Not always. This is a treat. I don't think there was a single mention of Krampus on the Dracula episode.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

But we'd have to fact check that to know for sure.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

That's fair.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Cultures around the world have used masks in rituals, performances, and of course other ways. Some of these cultures also claim that these masks transcend from an object to something more spiritual.

Noh Masks And Neutral Emotion

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Japanese No Theater, NOH, is one of the world's oldest continuously performed theatrical traditions and has relied on masks for more than six centuries to transform performers into characters that range from young women to elderly men to gods.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

So no theater is different from kabuki.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

So I'm just reading off Google. No and kabuki are the two most famous traditional Japanese theatrical arts, but they are exact opposites in style and origin. No is an ancient, slow, and minimalist art form designed for the elite, while kabuki is vibrant, action-packed, and highly visual entertainment for common people.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

I would have thought it was the opposite.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Performers in the No tradition also transformed, in addition to gods, into demons, ghosts, and spirits. As characters, of course, right? Although masks had been used in earlier Japanese religious ceremonies and performance traditions, the standardized no masks, familiar today, developed during the Muromaki period, which was 1336 to 1573. As No evolved into a refined dramatic art, the masks gradually became less religious objects and more expensive artistic tools. Now, no masks are like a little bit unnerving, so I'm gonna show you a picture, Alan.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

Okay. I'm picturing like an Oni mask.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Oh yeah, these are super different from that.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Yeah, so what you're showing me right now, it looks like the girl from the grudge.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

Yeah, they're like some of them are human looking, and so they're quite it's like dollface. Yeah, like exactly like dollface, and then there's others that um for other spirits and things that are more, you know, less like human accurate. Like here's a a smattering.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

It's interesting, it like really resembles just like a Japanese ghost.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

Yeah, yeah. Today there are more than 200 recognized varieties of no masks, all descended from about 60 original types. Unlike many theatrical masks, a no mask is intentionally carved with a neutral expression. We talked about this a little bit last week. Rather than displaying a fixed emotion, its appearance changes through the performer's movements. So who was the character from that show you were talking about last week? Hexadecimal?

SPEAKER_01 4:01

Oh, hexadecimal from reboot.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

Tell us a little bit more about that because I feel like you showed me a picture after we stopped recording last week and it was really badass and cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

So hexadecimal, just as a quick recap, is one of the viruses in the show Reboot. And uh she doesn't have well, I guess she does have her own face, but you just never ever see it. So based off whatever emotion she has, she switches to one of her many different masks, whether she's happy or sad or angry, and so she's just a a multi-faced person.

SPEAKER_02 4:32

Cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:33

And but she you she she uses the masks as her own faces.

SPEAKER_02 4:36

Yeah, that's super interesting. So this is like I guess a little bit different than than that, but it's that the masks are sort of intentionally carved neutrally, and then the performer brings the emotion in other ways.

SPEAKER_01 4:48

Yeah, that's completely different.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

By tilting the mask slightly upward, the face can appear joyful, serene, or hopeful. Tilting it downward creates the illusion of sadness, grief, or contemplation. These subtle shifts combined with carefully controlled body language and movement allow a single wooden mask to express a remarkable range of emotions without ever changing its carved features.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

I think about this a lot actually, because we are so sensitized to the subtle changes in like body language. You're having a conversation when someone does like the slightest eye movement, or like once you get really used to your pet, uh, you know, you know that like the different type of like tail swoosh means this type of thing. Sure. Then you look at like um animals that we don't understand or cultures that we don't understand, and we're just like trying to make inferences, but meanwhile, we have we know that just like these super, super tiny motions have such great meaning, but we're trying to do it with like a coarse adjustment. It makes no sense.

SPEAKER_02 5:49

It's like such a subtle, intimate knowledge almost.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Sure.

SPEAKER_02 5:53

For no performers, the mask is far more than a costume piece. Actors often describe it as possessing a spiritual presence, and the process of putting one on reflects that belief. Rather than using the ordinary Japanese verb for wearing clothing, performers say they attach or hang the mask, emphasizing that they are becoming the character rather than simply dressing as one. Before each performance, the lead actor spends time alone in a mirrored room, quietly contemplating the mask before placing it on. So it kind of has this like ritualistic right practice to it.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

I wish more people would spend some time contemplating how they come across before going into public.

SPEAKER_02 6:31

There you go. Many masks are treasured heirlooms that have been handed down through generations of performers and are treated with extraordinary care and reverence. No masks are traditionally carved from Japanese cypress wood and painted by highly skilled artisans, many of whom belong to family lineages that have preserved the craft for centuries. The masks are categorized according to the characters they portray.

SPEAKER_00 6:56

What?

SPEAKER_02 6:57

Including young women, elderly figures, noblemen, and warriors, demons, and restless ghosts or spirits.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

Are you telling me that a Japanese society has taken a mundane thing and like really perfected it over the generations?

SPEAKER_02 7:10

Absolutely. I don't know that it's mundane, but absolutely. Among the most recognizable is the Hanya mask, depicting a woman transformed into a demon through overwhelming jealousy and rage. Let me show you this mask, Alan.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Oh, I've seen this. Yeah, this it's famous.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Yeah, some of these are very recognizable. More than simple props, these masks remain enduring symbols of Japanese theatrical tradition, demonstrating how the slightest movement can transform a still carved face into one that appears vividly alive.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

Have you ever been when when you were in Japan, did you get to see any theater?

SPEAKER_02 7:45

No, I didn't. But we'll go back and we'll see some.

SPEAKER_01 7:48

I would love to see it. It sounds really fun.

Mummers And Winter Role-Playing

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Mummers plays are traditional folk performances that have been staged in Britain and Ireland for hundreds of years, particularly during Christmas, New Year's, and other winter festivals. Performers, known as mummers, often disguised themselves with masks, painted faces, veils, or elaborate costumes that concealed their identities as they traveled from house to house performing stories of combat, death, and miraculous resurrection. The anonymity provided by the masks allowed ordinary villagers to temporarily step outside of their everyday social roles and portray kings, heroes, doctors, fools, or supernatural figures. While the exact origins of mummers' plays are debated, many scholars believe they preserve elements of much older seasonal customs, celebrating the death of winter and the return of spring. Today, many mumming groups continue to perform these plays. Switching

False Face Society Healing Masks

SPEAKER_02 8:44

continents, the False Face Society is one of the traditional medicine societies of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. Rather than being theatrical or ceremonial costumes, the society's wooden masks are considered sacred objects used in healing rituals. According to the Haudenoshone tradition, the masks represent a powerful spirit who is given the responsibility of protecting people from illness and disease. Members of the society perform ceremonies intended to restore both physical and spiritual well-being, emphasizing that health is closely connected to the balance of the community and the natural world. According to Hodin O Shoney oral tradition, the masks trace their origin to a story in which the creator challenged a powerful spirit to a contest to see who could move a mountain.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Oh yeah? How'd that go?

SPEAKER_02 9:38

When the spirit looked back before the contest had ended, the mountain struck his face, leaving it permanently twisted.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

The mountain struck his face.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 9:47

How does that happen?

SPEAKER_02 9:48

A little bit of blowback, you know. The creator recognized the spirit's power and entrusted him with protecting humanity from sickness. From that point on, people were instructed to carve masks in the spirit's likeness and call upon his healing abilities through ceremony, prayer, and the offering of tobacco. The mask's distinctive, crooked nose and exaggerated features reflect this origin story. The masks themselves are created with great care and respect. Traditionally, they are carved directly into living trees before being cut free. Whoa. Which I really love, reflecting the belief that they possess a living spiritual presence. They are often painted red or black depending on when they were carved, and finished with horse hair or other natural materials. During ceremonies, members wearing the masks travel through homes and community spaces, using rattles, songs, tobacco, and other rituals to symbolically drive away illness and negative spirits. These ceremonies continue to be practiced by many Hodin O Shonee communities today. An important aspect of the False Face Society is that many Hodin O Shonee people do not view these masks as museum pieces or works of art. Instead, they are regarded as sacred beings that should not be bought, sold, or publicly displayed. In 1995, the Hodin O Shonee Grand Council formally called for the return of ceremonial masks from museums and private collections and asked that photographs and commercial reproductions of the masks no longer be circulated. Their position reflects the belief that the mask's significance lies in their spiritual purpose and their role within the community, not in their artistic or historical value alone.

The Green Man And Renewal

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Switching gears again and continents. Alan, you remember when we watched Hellier? Which one was that? Did you ever get to season two?

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Yeah, I got to season two.

SPEAKER_02 11:38

So you should be very familiar with the Green Man.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Of course.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

The Green Man is one of Europe's oldest and most enduring symbols, appearing as a human face surrounded by or emerging from leaves, vines, and branches. And actually we have one of these masks on the shelf.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Because I played the Green Man in a theatrical production. I think it was just called the Green Man when I was growing up.

SPEAKER_02 12:00

Although commonly associated with Celtic folklore today, Green Man carvings are more frequently found in medieval churches across England and Europe, where hundreds of depictions were carved into stone during the 11th through the 16th centuries. Historians continue to debate the figure's origins. Some believe the green man represents the cycle of death and rebirth found in nature, while others see him as a symbol of renewal, fertility, or humanity's connection to the natural world. The name Green Man itself is surprisingly modern, popularized by folklorist Lady Raglan in a 1939 article, even though the image is centuries older. The green man also survives as a living mask tradition in many European spring festivals. Participants wear elaborate masks made from fresh leaves, ivy, moss, flowers, and branches, transforming themselves into walking embodiments of nature. These figures often appear during events celebrating the arrival of spring, such as Mayday festivals, where they symbolize the return of life after winter. Whether carved into the stone of medieval cathedrals or brought to life through leafy disguises and modern festivals, the green man is a powerful reminder of nature's ability to endure.

African Masquerade As Living Spirit

SPEAKER_02 13:13

African ceremonial masks are also incredibly fascinating. And to your point, Alan, there's so much to talk about here.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

I have I don't even know where to start.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

Unlike many masks in Western traditions, African masks are not simply objects to be viewed. Across many cultures throughout the continent, masks are meant to be activated through performance. When worn during a masquerade, the mask, costume, music, and the dance work together to transform the wearer into a spiritual being, ancestor, animal, or a force of nature. So it's sort of part of this bigger tradition or practice, right? Or you you put on the mask, you put on a costume, there's music, and then suddenly this person is transformed or possessed by some kind of ancestral spirit.

SPEAKER_01 13:57

I get it.

SPEAKER_02 13:58

Or again, uh an animal or a force of nature. In many traditions, the person beneath the mask is no longer regarded as an individual, but as the spirit itself. Because of this belief, masks are typically worn with full-body costumes made of raffia, cloth, and other materials that completely conceal the performer's identity. It's similar, I guess, in some ways too, to what we talked about last week with Carnival, right? Where you're using the mask to kind of for different reasons, but to strip away who you are on this earth right now and to transform into somebody else or to, you know, whatever. You get what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

It's a full embodiment of the character.

SPEAKER_02 14:34

Yeah. African masquerades serve a wide variety of purposes depending on the community and region. And of course, right, this is very condensed history and cultural references that we could talk about much more nuanced.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Right. You're talking about an entire content's worth of culture. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:50

They may celebrate important life transitions, such as the passage from a childhood to adulthood, honor ancestors during funerals, promote fertility, bless the harvest, or seek protection from disease, war, and natural disasters. In some societies, masks are also used to reinforce social order, with elders calling upon ancestral spirits to help settle disputes or judge crimes. Others appear during royal ceremonies, festivals, or community celebrations, demonstrating that masks are woven into many aspects of cultural, spiritual, and civic life. The masks themselves are remarkably diverse in appearance. Some depict idealized human faces, representing beauty, wisdom, or, again, ancestors, while others take the form of powerful animals, such as elephants, antelopes, chimpanzees, or birds. Many combine both human and animal characteristics, symbolizing the combined strength and spiritual qualities of each. African masks also vary greatly in construction. Some are worn over the face, others cover the entire head like a helmet, and still others rest on top of the head as elaborate headdresses. Many are carved from a single piece of wood and decorated with pigments, beads, shells, feathers, metal, raffia, or cloth, though not all are made of wood. The creation of a ceremonial mask is often considered a sacred process. Skilled wood carvers, traditionally trained through apprenticeships, produce masks according to the artistic conventions of their communities. Once completed, many masks undergo rituals in which elders ceremonially invite a spirit to inhabit the object, giving it symbolic power. When a mask is retired from ceremonial use, another ritual may be performed to release that spirit.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

I like that.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

For many African communities, the true significance of a mask lies not in the carved object alone, but in the living performance that brings it to life through dance, music, costume, and of course, ceremony.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Very cool.

Krampuslauf And Handmade Terror

SPEAKER_02 16:49

Now, like we said, we have talked about Krampus many times on this podcast.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_02 16:54

But we haven't really gotten into the particular practice of making and wearing Krampus masks as part of festivals.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

We've never talked about this.

SPEAKER_02 17:02

The legend of Krampus has deep roots in the Alpine regions of Europe.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

So quick question. Who is Krampus?

SPEAKER_02 17:08

Why don't you tell us, Alan?

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Uh Kram Kram Krampus. Krampus is bad bad uh bad Santa.

SPEAKER_02 17:15

Perfectly done.

SPEAKER_01 17:16

I I could never do Krampus justice, um, and I know you have a full write-up right in front of you saying exactly who Krampus is.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

Let me let me take it from here, Alan. The legend of Krampus has roots in the Alpine regions of Europe, particularly in present-day Austria, southern Germany, and northern Italy. Many historians believe that the tradition predates Christianity, originating in pagan winter solstice festivals, where villagers wore frightening masks and costumes to represent the wild spirits believed to roam the darkest days of the year. As Christianity spread through the Alps during the Middle Ages, many of these older customs were absorbed into Christian celebrations. Over time, the horned winter spirit became associated with the Feast of St. Nicholas, transforming into the figure known as Krampus, who served as the saint's fearsome counterpart.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

I mean, horned evil Santa is just so frickin' cool.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

In Alpine folklore, Krampus is described as a terrifying creature that is half man and half goat, covered in shaggy fur and equipped with horns, fangs, cloven hooves, and a long tongue. A la Jean Simmons. While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts on December 6th, Krampus is said to visit naughty children the night before on Krampus Knocked, which is December 5th. Armed with bundles of birch switches, he punishes misbehavior with a symbolic whipping, and in older versions of the legend, carries the worst offenders away in a basket. Although these stories were meant to encourage good behavior, they also preserved echoes of much older beliefs about winter spirits and the struggle between order and chaos.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

And if anyone would like to know more about Krampus, please read Krampus by Brahm. Is it historically accurate?

SPEAKER_02 19:00

No.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

But is it a lot of fun? Heck yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:03

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

I reread it last Christmas. It was a good one.

SPEAKER_02 19:07

Christmas in July, isn't that what they say?

SPEAKER_01 19:10

Uh no, Christmas is in December.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

Today the tradition is kept alive through Krampus Lauf, or Krampus Runs, held throughout the Alpine region. During these events, participants wear elaborate handmade costumes and masks while charging through the streets, ringing massive cowbells, carrying torches, and playfully chasing spectators. Should we go? Um I feel like it's kind of scary.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Sounds kind of dangerous.

SPEAKER_02 19:35

I don't like that they run at people. I've seen videos online.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

Uh, as long as you're armed yourself, it's fine.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

In South Tyrol, Italy, and neighboring Austria, these processions remain an important part of local Christmas culture, blending folklore and craftsmanship. And really they're just like this community, you know, community celebration.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

Though intimidating in appearance, modern Krampus runs are largely festive events that attract thousands of visitors each winter. One of the most striking elements of the tradition is the craftsmanship behind the masks. Authentic Krampus masks are hand-carved from stone pine.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

Stone pine.

SPEAKER_02 20:12

Stone pine, which is, I now know, a specific type of pine. Also called pinus pinia. Pinus. Or other local woods by skilled artisans, with each piece taking many hours to complete. Carvers carefully shape snarling mouths, exaggerated brows, and deeply furrowed faces before adding real goat or ram horns, glass eyes, fur, and layers of paint to create a uniquely terrifying expression.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

I will say that my favorite Krampus mask of all time comes from the movie Krampus from 2015, where Krampus is presumably wearing like the skin of Santa as his mask.

SPEAKER_02 20:56

Yeah, that's pretty horrifying.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

It's crazy look because you can see his mouth behind the mouth.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

Yeah. Ooh, I don't like it. No two masks are exactly alike, and many are considered works of folk art as much as costumes. Rather than simple Halloween-style disguises, these handcrafted masks help transform the wearer into the legendary creature itself.

More Global Mask Traditions

SPEAKER_02 21:18

And these traditions are just few of many, right? Let's talk about really quickly some other some other masked traditions around the world that we're just gonna briefly touch on. For example, although closely related to carnival, Mardi Gras developed its own traditions, especially in New Orleans.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Yeah, with the beads.

SPEAKER_02 21:36

Masks became legally required for float riders to preserve anonymity and encourage participation across social classes.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Wait, masks are legally required? Historically. Oh.

SPEAKER_02 21:46

Today they remain one of the defining symbols of the celebration. Dia de los Muertos festivals in Mexico use masks. While face painting is more common today than physical masks, carved skull masks and calavera imagery have long Been part of celebrations honoring deceased loved ones. The skull represents remembrance rather than fear, emphasizing that death is a natural part of life. Nuo opera masks in China originated in ancient rituals meant to drive away evil spirits and disease. The brightly painted wooden masks portray gods, ancestors, mythical heroes, and demons, and are still used in performances and ceremonies in several regions in China. In South Korea, Ha Hue Bushin Gutol Nori.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

Sorry, what was that, Abby?

SPEAKER_02 22:31

You heard me. Dates back to the 12th century. This traditional mask dance combines comedy, satire, and ritual. Performers wear distinctive wooden masks to parody aristocrats, monks, and other members of society while also invoking blessings for the community. During Techu festivals, monks perform sacred dances wearing elaborate masks representing wrathful deities, animals, skeletons, and spiritual protectors. These dances are believed to bring blessings and teach Buddhist lessons to spectators. In Indonesia, the barong, a lion-like guardian spirit, is portrayed using a massive carved mask in costumes operated by two performers. Traditional dances reenact the eternal struggle between good and evil, making the mask a sacred rather than theatrical object. Basil's carnival in Switzerland is famous for the enormous hand-painted masks called larvin. Participants remain anonymous throughout the festival, and many masks satirize politicians, celebrities, or current events.

The Psychology Of Anonymity

SPEAKER_02 23:33

So we've established that people and cultures from across history and the globe have used masks for various performances and rituals. But why? Let's talk about the psychology of masks. This comes from the Shorehaven behavioral study that we cited at the top. Masks have long been more than just simple disguises. When a person puts on a mask, they often feel less constrained by everyday expectations and may become more confident, expressive, playful, or bold. Part of this effect comes from the fact that humans rely heavily on faces to understand one another.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

This reminds me, growing up, we had a uh Purim carnival. And one year, my brother dressed as Winnie the Pooh in like the full like mascot level.

SPEAKER_02 24:19

Can you tell us what a Purim carnival is?

SPEAKER_01 24:21

Without getting into the history of Purim, just know that it's basically like Jewish Halloween when it comes to the appearance. There's a carnival, there's costumes, everything. Got it. And it's there tells the whole story of Purim, uh, which was a historical event. My brother dressed as Winnie the Pooh, and again, full mascot level. So you look, you know, it it was elaborate. And so you could not tell who he was at all. And what did he do? He scared me.

SPEAKER_02 24:46

Tell us what he did.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

He ran up to me and he grabbed me.

SPEAKER_02 24:49

What this reminds me of a little bit too is like in the way that masks historically have provided anonymity for people, computers kind of do that now, in a way, right? People can interact with other people online without anybody knowing who you are.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Oh, sure, online anonym anonymity.

SPEAKER_02 25:04

Yeah, and it's not quite the same because you're not doing in it's different, but it's kind of like worth noting that there's this sometimes I think humans have this desire to be able to move more boldly in the world because they're a little bit protected.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

I'm gonna butcher the quote, but it's something along the lines of like masks let you be your true self.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

Speaking of Gene Simmons, he has a great quote. Or maybe it was Paul Stanley, is one of the members of KISS. But he was he was mentioning how um it's often said that money changes people. It's not so much that it changes you into a different person, but he said that money changes you into the worst version of yourself. So if you're still a really good person, you're gonna be fine. But if deep down inside you're a piece of shit, money's gonna bring that out.

SPEAKER_02 25:50

Yeah. That's I thought that was cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

It's like it's it's like the anonymity of a mask.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

Right. Yeah, exactly. We constantly, so as humans, we constantly read facial expressions to judge emotions, intentions, and trustworthiness for right or wrong. When those familiar cues are hidden, the masked person can seem mysterious, intimidating, or even supernatural. This is one reason masks have been so effective in ceremonies that represent spirits, ancestors, gods, or demons. So just to talk a little bit more about this like layer of anonymity, I think this is a really important part because one, it feels like freedom to people and allows them to get away with things, but two, it also strips away their identity and allows them in these spiritual rituals to transcend or be possessed by something else.

SPEAKER_01 26:35

You become a blank slate. That's right. Hence why the group, anonymous, wears masks.

SPEAKER_02 26:40

There you go. In traditional performances like Japanese snow theater or African masquerades, masks help performers fully become the character or spirit they are portraying. In this way, masks occupy a unique place between hiding and revealing. They conceal a person's identity, but they can also reveal emotions, desires, and behaviors that might otherwise be hidden. That paradox is part of what has made masks so fascinating across cultures for thousands of years.

Why Masks Dominate Horror

SPEAKER_02 27:08

I also think masks are used so often in horror because it's scarier to look at something coming towards you and to not know who they are really or what they look like. Right. And of course, there's also this sense of uncanny valley where you kind of are adding an animation to what's clearly an inanimate object.

SPEAKER_01 27:25

I mean, Michael Myers is such a great example. He's wearing uh a mask that is just a basically a blank slate.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

Yeah. And we talked about uh with me and Kate did the episode on puppets earlier this year, and I feel like there's a lot of overlap too with like puppets and masks in horror. Sure. A mask hides a facial expression that we normally use to judge another person's intentions, which makes the character feel unpredictable and difficult to read. Many horror masks are designed to be almost human, but not quite, with frozen smiles, blank eyes, exaggerated features, or unnatural proportions that trigger a feeling that something is wrong, which is of course Uncanny Valley. Because the mask doesn't change expression, it can seem emotionless and relentless, making the wearer feel less like a person and more like an unstoppable force. Horror filmmakers also use masks to turn a character into a symbol rather than an individual, which is in part why figures like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Ghostface remain so memorable. The hidden face allows audiences to project their own fears onto the character.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Let us not forget Leatherface.

SPEAKER_02 28:32

Don't worry, I would never. Perhaps the most famous horror mask belongs to Halloween. The pale white mask worn by Michael Myers was originally a cheaply modified Captain Kirk mask modeled after William Shatner. The production team painted it white, widened the eye holes, and messed with the hair, creating one of Cinema's most recognizable villains for just a few dollars. Director John Carpenter wanted Michael to appear almost expressionless, like the shape, which is what these referred to, of evil, rather than a man with emotions. The result is unsettling because the mask never reacts, even as the character stalks or kills his victims.

SPEAKER_01 29:09

Or or gets stabbed with a clothes hanger.

SPEAKER_02 29:11

Truly. The hockey mask worn by Jason Voorhees is another example of a simple object becoming iconic.

SPEAKER_01 29:18

But Abby, he doesn't start wearing the hockey mask.

SPEAKER_02 29:22

He didn't wear the mask until Friday the 13th, part three. In his earlier appearances, his face was uncovered or hidden with a sack over his head. The hockey mask was borrowed from a gold tender's protective equipment, but audiences immediately connected its blank, battered appearance with the unstoppable killer. Over the years, scratches, dense, and weathering became part of its identity. Like, you know, there's kind of these iconic moments where, like, what is it in the fourth or fifth or sixth one? There's so many, he gets like chopped, right? Like, and that sticks, that chip stays in the mask for the rest of the series.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

Yeah, it's it's it that big gouge is in the mask for the rest of the series. Yeah. But uh also as he dies and resurrects and everything, the mask like sort of fuses into his face.

SPEAKER_02 30:08

Mm-mm-mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 30:10

Uh not entirely because it still gets ripped off sometimes. You never see his face, really.

SPEAKER_02 30:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

Uh, but it it it's it's on there. It's on there good.

SPEAKER_02 30:19

In Scream, the mask works for a different reason. The now famous ghost face costume was actually discovered by the filmmakers during location scouting, which is kind of creepy. And they built the killer's appearance around it after obtaining the rights to use the design. Inspired in part by the scream, the alo the painting, of course, the elongated face appears frozen between a scream and a grin. Unlike Michael or Jason, however, anyone can wear the mask, right? It's not like interwoven with that specific character.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

And it does come on and off.

SPEAKER_02 30:49

Yes. Throughout the franchise, multiple characters have become ghost faced. So this kind of like um calls to mind like different ceremonial practices with the masks, right? Where like if you put it on, like it possesses you a little bit, right? Just a little, just a little hint of that.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

It's like the helmet of Dr. Fate.

SPEAKER_02 31:09

I don't know anything you're saying. Who's Dr. Fate?

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Dr. Fate is a member of the Justice League, and he's famous for having this uh like golden helmet that completely obstructs his face, only his eyes are showing. And it is the earthly anchor that l is linked to the Lord of Order named Naboo.

SPEAKER_02 31:29

You've totally lost me.

SPEAKER_01 31:31

Anyways, as soon as someone puts the helmet on, they are basically overtaken by the spirit of Naboo and effectively becomes someone uh becomes like the the avatar of this unearthly being.

SPEAKER_02 31:43

That's cool. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

And they have lots of powers.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

Another memorable example is the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, where Leatherface wears masks made from human skin. Rather than hiding his identity, the masks suggest that he has almost no identity of his own. He changes masks depending on the role he is playing, wearing different faces as if he is trying to become someone else. I think it's the most frightening example.

SPEAKER_01 32:08

It's pretty gross.

SPEAKER_02 32:10

Whether it's Michael Myers' emotionless stare, Jason's scarred hockey mask, ghost face's haunting grin, or leatherface's grotesque disguises.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Or Dr. Fate.

SPEAKER_02 32:20

Or Doctor Fate, thank you. These masks all succeed for the same reason. They hide just enough of the human face to let our imagination fill in the rest. And there's so many, right? There's endless examples of masks in horror, which I think just proves very, very outright like how successful it is as a horror trope. A visible monster can eventually become familiar, but a hidden face keeps us guessing. We can't read its emotions, predict its intentions, or know who might be underneath. That uncertainty taps into one of our oldest fears, not simply the fear of what's chasing us, but the fear of what we cannot truly see. Masks have fascinated humanity for thousands of years because they exist somewhere between concealment and revelation. Across cultures, they have honored the dead, represented gods and spirits, protected communities, marked celebrations, and allowed people to step outside of their everyday identities. In horror, these same qualities take on a darker meaning. A mask hides emotion, obscures intention, and transforms an everyday person into something unfamiliar and certainly unsettling.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

I would agree with that.

SPEAKER_02 33:27

Whether worn in an ancient ritual, a religious ceremony, or by a slasher villain on the big screen, masks remind us that what we cannot see is more frightening than what we can see. Perhaps that's why they continue to endure, not just as objects of history or folklore, but as some of the most powerful and recognizable symbols in horror.

SPEAKER_01 33:47

Also in my bloody Valentine, there's the masked minor.

SPEAKER_02 33:50

Yeah, I mean, again, there's there's so many examples. There's endless examples. Yeah, it's a really good one. Well,

Favorite Masks And Closing

SPEAKER_02 33:57

Alan, that um effectively wraps up our two-part series on the history of masks and horror.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

That was fun.

SPEAKER_02 34:03

What's your your favorite? Like, what do you think is the most? Obviously, mine is Michael Myers, but like, what do you think is your most iconic horror mask?

SPEAKER_01 34:11

Um, I don't know if it's well, sorry, it is horror if you go into the comics. The movie, however, was far more like adventure and comedy. But that would be the mask.

SPEAKER_02 34:24

Oh yeah, I I was kind of waiting for you to bring that up.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

Uh so in the the comic version, which pre predates the movie significantly, so the the the lore is always that it's a um it's a it's a relic of Loki. So it's it's a the the mask is pure chaos. And it brings out the most extreme version of yourself, but it always leads to destruction. So you it sorry, it all it always leads to self-destruction. So it's like a it's a it's a really depressing thing because it seemingly lets you do anything, gives you everything that you want, but it's the whole absolute power uh corrupts absolutely. Right. Uh, and just like everyone who goes through the process of inheriting the mask, uh their life is left in ruin by the end.

SPEAKER_02 35:13

Yeah, it's a bummer.

SPEAKER_01 35:14

It is, but it's freaking cool. Like, talk about like one of the most powerful power sets. You basically have, you know, uh you you you can do anything.

SPEAKER_02 35:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:25

There's there's there's like no no limit on what it can do as long as the the the drive is inside you.

SPEAKER_02 35:31

Yeah, I love that. As always, thank you so much for being here. Stay safe, stay spooky, and we'll talk to you soon. Bye. Bye.