‘Morgan’s Mask’ highlights the profound importance of self-care

One of the hidden gems of Fan Expo Canada has, for myself anyways, been an opportunity to preview new and original content.

Over the years, we’ve been treated to sneak previews of films such as Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral and television shows such as CW’s Arrow.

2022 was no different; attendees got to have a sneak preview of Morgan’s Mask, a new film starring the very talented Carolina Ravassa (Valorant, Overwatch) whom we had a pleasure of interviewing at the convention.

What makes this film special is its character’s background. Filmed during the pandemic, it follows the story of a cosplayer who’s life starts to fall apart as she is isolated from the rest of the world during lockdown, leading her to turn inwards to help her move forward.

With cosplay at the foundation of who the character is, this film was perfect for Fan Expo Canada. However, this film is much more emotional and moving than one would realize. It tackles a wide range of topics, including issues around mental health and identity, conveying a very powerful message at the end of it all.

Delicate subject matter delivered beautifully

Mental health is not an easy subject matter to address, and certainly a challenge when creating a fictional piece of art.

I am very appreciative of how this film, and specifically star Carolina Ravassa, capture the pain that primary character Morgan silently feels as she tries to grapple with the negative factors in her life while trying to meet the expectations of the world around her. You meet a woman who just like any other ordinary individual who, via a cascade of changes in her life, is put in a position that she cannot seem to get out of.

Social media is a primary catalyst for Morgan’s pain; an element in her life that has prioritized others over her. I truly think social media, how others perceive us, and our need to make others happy is an important and relevant discussion for today, and the way the film tackles this is sophisticated. You often here of people saying that treat people kindly, you never know what they are going through that you aren’t aware of. This film really highlights that perfectly, capturing the façade that most see on social media vs what they are really going through.

For me, it was the performances that made this film stand up. I felt the story could have been tweaked a little bit to adjust the pace and context, especially in transitionary stages of Morgan’s journey. There was a little too much left up to interpretation. However, Ravassa makes up for the gaps with her portrayal of Morgan, allowing you as the audience member to immerse yourself in her journey.

In addition, the lengths to which Ravassa goes to portray the character is commendable. At one time, I as a viewer of the film wanted to simply give Morgan a hug and say it was going to be alright. Its moments like that give you confidence in the production, and your own experience frankly.

I also appreciated the use of zoom calls, video chats, and video content on social media to capture the isolated nature of the times, while still expanding the characters beyond Ravassa’s Morgan to create a sense of community upon which Morgan’s character develops.

A story full of potential

I feel the story is incredibly relevant and poignant for the times, and addresses some of the things we simply talk too much as news snippets rather than proper discussions. I feel what you have here is like a walking case-study of someone being affected by the elements of today, and visually shows us what can be possible (both positive and negative).

However, as I mentioned before, the story felt a little fragmented. The overall narrative was sound, but I felt some of the scenes either too stretched out or specific dialogue took away from the context. There is a time and place for silence and observation for characters, of which there are good examples within this film itself. However, there were times where I felt things dragged on too long. Other times I also felt the transitions were not as smooth, abruptly bridging multiple emotional states together.

I know I am being critical here, but I personally feel that with some editing, the core message that both the overarching story and the character of Morgan are trying to convey to audiences would be delivered much more effectively.

Despite needing a little bit more refining, the final product is still successful in making you think about important subject matters which make this film a worthwhile watch.

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This film started off life as a kickstarter campaign, one that provided a lot of context to what the project aimed to achieve. What I truly love about this film is how grounded it is in its storytelling.

As someone who appreciates events like Fan Expo Canada and the magical world of cosplay, it made me really think what cosplayers must have gone through these past two years. Its an art form that needs an audience, and that can be challenging when we are all stuck in our homes.

I also got a chance to reflect on social media. I was an early adopter of social media, having tried platforms that frankly don’t even exist today. I could relate to the impact of what social media does to a person, especially giving up ones own priorities to make others happy. That resonated with me very strongly.

Beyond that, it also made me more cognizant about mental health, both for myself and others. Silence or masks of happiness can often hide what is truly going on, and being cognizant of our surroundings and ourselves is paramount for our own growth and success. The film had an empowering message, delivered beautifully by Ravassa and her supporting cast members.

I really hope this film makes it way to audiences very soon, either in theatres or streaming. Its nice to see talent who are known for their voice work, like Carolina Ravassa and Troy Baker, be featured as their talented selves and be given the space to deliver with their roles.

I will leave with this message: Lean into others with positivity, as we never who is going through what, while still ensuring that we keep a check on ourselves. Balance is beautiful.

Be sure to follow Ravassa on her socials (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for more details on where this film will be showing next.