I first heard about Beyond the Mask by word of mouth. The film was brought to the screen that night by a homeschool group. I have to admit that I was sitting in my seat to support a cause, only half expecting to see a film I actually enjoyed. By the time it was over, the audience was standing and cheering. Delightful, simply delightful!
Fast forward three years and I watched it again at home. Delightful, simply delightful! Before you think I’m just getting dotty, I want you to know that I truly enjoyed it as much the second time as the first.
Beyond the Mask is a delicious bite of Colonial America. It begins in India with the East India Company running amuck so to speak. William Reynolds (Andrew Cheney) is on the payroll of that notorious company as an assassin and all around bad guy. After fourteen long years, William is ready for his life to change, really change, from the inside out; a change of heart so to speak. He tries to quit but he’s too valuable to the company and he knows too much, so the assassin is hunted by assassins. That is just the first five minutes! They believe him dead until he pops up in England, impersonating the Vicar who gave his life to save him. At this point, though undeserving, he is quickly falling in love with the beautiful, both inside and out, Charlotte (Kara Killmer).
The plot takes us from England to Philadelphia where we meet Ben Franklin, George Washington, and yes, the beautiful Charlotte has crossed the pond with her uncle, Charles Kemp (John Rhys-Davies) as well. Tension is high in the Colonies. The Continental Congress is working on the Declaration of Independence. Much is at stake; the birth of a nation.
No spoiler alerts here! Now, I want to give you a little back story about this film. I believe I’m one of the few people who actually watch the credits after the movie. I’m a curious sort. This time I was rewarded and the whole home schooler thing fell into place.
I would like to tell you a little of what I found out about the Burns Family.
Dr. Chad Burns (rocket scientist) was on his way to NASA when his life took a sharp turn. Chad’s filmmaking began with family and continues with family. Chad’s father and uncle got their families together for holidays, and the nine cousins inevitably ended up working on some sort of project. One year they built a log cabin. The next year they wrote a script and acted it out using the cabin as their set. Then came a Civil War movie. All this time Chad thought of movies as a family hobby. For a career, he dreamed of being a NASA rocket scientist. Now he is a filmmaker extraordinaire, and yes, the family is still working together. My challenge to you? See how many of the Burns Family you can count in the credits of this action-adventure treasure. Oh, yes… the Burns were homeschooled!
By the way, right after I streamed Beyond the Mask, I went online and purchased my own DVD. This film is beautifully done, family fare with the benefit of a little history of our amazing United States of America. Happy July 4th. Be happy and be proud! As always, I welcome your comments at carolyn@carolynhastings.com.
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