I was able to catch a screening of The Crimson Mask Directors cut at the Los Angeles Cinema festival where it won best picture. The director's version of the film changes many aspects from the original cut that I saw on Bluray. This cut of the film is actually shorter and focuses on the characters more than the secret society and supernatural elements of the first version. The film intertwines the stories in a traditional way rather than the originals time displaced chapter pacing. It opens with a focus on Thomas Caine played by Josh Burrow ( Captain Morgan ) and stays with him for a while before introducing Jack Parker played by veteran character actor Robert Clohessy. While some scenes have been cut from the original, we are given a couple of deleted scenes that make Parker more likable and I wish were in the original. The original film was very polarizing when it hit the festival circuit. Winning big awards at some festivals and being slammed by critics at others. If you liked the first film, you will enjoy this version. If you did not then I would not give this a try.
