Fund This: In ‘The Mask Of Sanity,’ A Serial Killer Has A Social Media Following

Welcome to the Fund This column! Each week, we’ll look at a planned web series or other online video project currently in search of funding on crowdfunding sites. We’ll tell you what the series is all about and explain why it is worth your money. Do you have a project that’s currently being crowdfunded? Contact us to let us know and we may feature it in upcoming installments and check out previous installments right here.

Project Name: The Mask of Sanity

Asking For: $5,000 through Kickstarter

Amount Raised Thus Far (At Time Of Post): $3,022

Days Remaining In Campaign (At Time Of Post): 9

Description: The latest serial killer project to hit the crowdfunding circuit draws influences from Japanese mythology, horror filmmaking, and the world of social media stars. It’s called The Mask of Sanity, and it comes from filmmaker Francisco J. Núñez.

The Mask of Sanity stars Toru Uchikado, best known for his role in the NBC series Heroes: Reborn, as Oliver, a serial killer who maintains a strong presence on social media. His most notable quality is his tendency to wear a Kitsune mask while committing his crimes. When his digital fame inspires a copycat killer, he must fight back to “reclaim his legacy.”

More details about The Mask of Sanity are available through its pitch video, which stars Núñez and Uchikado:

Creator Bio: Núñez is a filmmaker whose work often refers to Japanese culture. His recent project “Noboru” is a Japanese-language short film about a gay man who comes to the United States.

Best Perk: Backers who contribute at least $50 will receive a miniature version of the “Kitsune” mask Oliver wears in the show. It makes a perfect disguise for a pint-sized serial killer.

Why You Should Fund It: The Mask of Sanity will not be your typical serial killer story. Based on the pitch video, it’s easy to tell genre fans will be pleased by the amount of blood that will be spilled, but Núñez and co. also seem interested in deeply exploring some nuanced themes that are relevant to the modern, digital world. When I look at The Mask of Sanity, I see an intriguing combination of Dexter, American Psycho, and Japanese horror films like Ringu. It’s an ambitious project, and for just a few dollars more, it will get made.