Competition
Mad Mask
Mad Mask | Nagano, Katsuya Arai | JP 2025 | 73 Min
| DCP
Metro Historisch
Sa,20.09.▸23:00
A serial killer who has a habit of wearing his victims’ faces as masks puts on the wrong mug and finds himself in a maelstrom of sex, violence, and high spirits. Mad Mask is a sketch comedy from hell, conceived and shot by the Japanese cult comedian Nagano and governed by his affinity for transgression, breaking taboos, and loony interludes. The coarse aesthetic of the 16mm film stock gives the cavalcade of gory grotesqueries and even more bizarre jokes a grimy underground flair that’s amplified by the ragged, anarchic score. Mad Mask is unique—a film unlike any SLASH or the world has ever seen, somewhere between Hitoshi Matsumoto, Shinya Tsukamoto, and Khavn de la Cruz. (Markus Keuschnigg)
Nagano, Katsuya Arai
Nagano (b. 1974) is known in his native Japan as “the lone cult comedian.” Active in the live-performance scene as well as on television and streaming platforms, his comedy skits on his YouTube channel provided the inspiration for Mad Mask. Katsuya Arai(b. 1975) has been involved in several Japanese hit television programs. Currently, he is directing a series of short films for Nagano’s YouTube channel. Mad Mask marks his first foray into feature films.
Nagano (b. 1974) is known in his native Japan as “the lone cult comedian.” Active in the live-performance scene as well as on television and streaming platforms, his comedy skits on his YouTube channel provided the inspiration for Mad Mask. Katsuya Arai(b. 1975) has been involved in several Japanese hit television programs. Currently, he is directing a series of short films for Nagano’s YouTube channel. Mad Mask marks his first foray into feature films.
Screenings
Metro Historisch
Sa,20.09.▸23:00
