Mask

A mother's fierce love shines through adversity as she fights for her son's happiness.

Critics broadly praised the film as a sensitive, hopeful drama elevated by Cher’s forceful performance and Eric Stoltz’s compassionate portrayal of Rocky, though some found its universal-message sentimentality heavy-handed.

• Rocky’s craniofacial condition shapes how strangers, peers, and institutions respond to him while the story foregrounds his intelligence and warmth.
• Rusty’s wild lifestyle contrasts with her determined efforts to secure Rocky the chances and happiness others take for granted.
• Rocky’s emotional warmth, intelligence, and falling in love establish aspirations beyond the limiting assumptions attached to his appearance.
• The film’s award-winning makeup creates Rocky’s visible deformity as a defining physical presence while preserving the performance’s emotional immediacy.

• The Elephant Manemotionally direct coming of age drama centered on disability, family protection, and resilience
• Wonderwarm, tearjerking family drama about a young person confronting social prejudice and physical difference
• My Left Footinspirational disability drama driven by a charismatic lead performance and the struggle for dignity
• The Perks of Being a Wallflowersentimental coming of age story about outsider identity, friendship, and the search for acceptance

Director

Peter Bogdanovich

Release Date

1985-03-08

Runtime

120 min

Rating

7.2 / 10 (511)

What is Mask about?

A fiercely loving mother fights to give her exceptionally intelligent son a full adolescence despite the cruelty attached to his visible deformity.

What is Mask like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mask as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Mask violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mask.

What did critics think of Mask?

Critics broadly praised the film as a sensitive, hopeful drama elevated by Cher’s forceful performance and Eric Stoltz’s compassionate portrayal of Rocky, though some found its universal-message sentimentality heavy-handed.

Which films are like Mask?

Films with a similar feel include The Elephant Man, Wonder, My Left Foot, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

How long is Mask?

Mask runs 120 minutes.