Masks have played a critical role in horror movies since the earliest days of the genre. In fact, the number of characters in the genre that can be identified by their iconic facial coverings is simply astounding. Whether that's simply to conceal a killer's identity or to cover up a horrifying disfigurement, it all comes back to playing a key feature for the characters.

RELATED: 10 Best Horror Movie Killer Masks, Ranked

Even the articles themselves have become an icon of the genre, sometimes being a mandatory setpiece for the plot. From something as simple as a rubber face for Halloween to theatrical pieces of costumery, masks have been the most prominent factor for both movies and the characters that wear them.

There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021) - 4.8

Stream On Netflix

theres someone inside your house killer wearing amask

While it might be low rated, the masks used in this Netflix horror film play a crucial role in both the movie's plot. As the shadowy secrets of each victim's deeds come to light, so are they reflected in the killer's specially made masks.

Without going into spoiler territory, the killer's calling card is a series of 3D-printed masks made to look like each one of the many high school victims in the cast. As is the case in stories of secrets, lies, and deception, all the sins of the perpetrators are soon known and revealed when the truth comes home to roost.

Halloween III: Season Of The Witch (1982) - 5.0

Rent On Apple TV

A child clutching at the sides of the jack o lantern mask it's wearing in Halloween III Season of the Witch

Though this entry in the iconic franchise has the notable absence of the infamous Michael Myers, it did still keep the theme of the mask alive and well. But instead of being worn by an escaped psychopath on the loose, the masks are enchanted traps set to curse the trick-or-treaters that wear them.

RELATED: 10 Masked Movie Slashers Who Have Nothing On Michael Myers

In a plot concerning a coven of witches, evil Celtic magic, and an army of cyborg henchmen, this strange deviation from the standard horror plot stands out as the black sheep of the series but has since become a cult classic in recent years. Plus, the Pumpkin, Witch, and Skull masks have become as recognizable as Michael's own Shatner mask.

Hell Fest (2018) - 5.5

Stream On Netflix

Hell Fest - The Killer in Red

Hell Fest was a modern return-to-form for the slasher genre, featuring a mysterious masked murderer, a group of teens, and a creepy location in the form of a haunted attraction. It jumps through the same similar hoops as something like Halloween, The Prowler, or Friday the 13th might, but it still retains its own visual identity with its setting, design, and slasher in the center of it all.

Known primarily as "The Other," the hooded creep dons a dirty yellow corpse mask when he finds his next group of targets at a horror-themed amusement park. In the end, it's revealed that this is far from the Other's first rodeo, as demonstrated by the collection of masks he keeps in his garage.

Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) - 6.0

Stream On Paramount+

Jason Voorhees with a spear in Friday The 13th Part VI Jason Lives

No conversation about masked slasher movies would be complete without an appearance from Camp Crystal Lake's resident monster, Jason Voorhees. The Friday the 13th series made the image of a white hockey mask forever associated with the horror movie genre, and Jason Lives is arguably where the series came into its own.

RELATED: 10 Of The Scariest Masked Horror Movie Maniacs, Ranked

By the sixth film, the movies were starting to become clichés of themselves. So, Part VI went all the way with the idea and played up the tropes. In every movie featuring Jason's signature mask, it's this tongue-in-cheek entry that truly captures the best of the franchise.

You’re Next (2011) - 6.6

Stream On Hulu

You're Next Wolf standing by a bloody wall

2011's You're Next puts a different spin on the home-invasion storyline. Because not only are the film's killers absolute professionals as what they do, the final girl of the feature is too. When a family dinner is crashed by a group of masked assassins armed to the teeth, chaos ensues as they start picking off victims. That is until one applies her survivalist training.

What makes the killers in animal masks different from the standard-issue slasher is their approach to the task at hand. While their white masks are certainly creepy, their weaponry and tactical gear are much more practical than what others of the trade might wear. By having them as hired blades rather than mindless masked murderers a la The Strangers, the film makes the threat more grounded and therefore scarier.

Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2006) - 6.7

Stream On Shudder, AMC+, & Hoopla

Leslie Vernon preparing his slasher attack.

Before movies like Cabin in the Woods were playing the meta-horror-comedy card, Leslie Vernon was doing it all the way back in 2006. In this self-aware study of the slasher movie genre, horror icons like Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface are historical figures who inspire one "unique" individual to pursue a career as a sinister slasher. A documentary crew follows his process and his story but soon discovers it's not all a bunch of horror movie cliches.

RELATED: The 10 Scariest Masks In The Purge, Ranked

While a masked persona is a prominent fixture in the second and third acts of the film, the real mask in question is more of a figure of speech. As the documentary team uncovers more and more about Leslie's past and plans for murder, the mask of a seemingly over-zealous slasher fan is pulled away to reveal a true monster behind it all

Scream (1996) - 7.3

Stream On Paramount+

Ghostface stands in a doorway in Scream.

What began as a horror-comedy parodying the clichés and tropes set by other members of the slasher genre soon gave the world an unforgettable mask seen in stores every Halloween ever since. Ghostface has become more than just a creep with a knife and a talkbox, but an identity that has spread across five films and a horror spinoff with three seasons of slashing.

The pale face and black hooded cloak are practically on the same level as Jason's hockey mask when it comes to levels of recognition. The look has been around so long that it's practically become a symbol of the horror genre as a whole in its own right.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - 7.5

Stream On Shudder, AMC+, Tubi, & Showtime

Leatherface standing in a field in The Texas Chainsaw Masscare

When the main villain's most notorious deed is collecting the faces of his victims to make into masks, it's bound to get someone's attention. When it first premiered way back in 1974, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the most shocking features ever thrown up on the big screen. With Leatherface and his penchant for skin collecting, it's fairly easy to see why.

RELATED: The 10 Most Iconic Masked Characters In Movies, Ranked

The masks do more than make the already-fearsome Bubba Sawyer a more intimidating force, they supposedly represent different sides of his fractured personality. While his standard skin mask is used while he's collecting victims for dinner, he has a mask with grandmother-styled attire for the kitchen, and a makeup-smeared "pretty lady" mask to pair with his black suit. The different personae give the character more layers than the standard chainsaw-swinging slasher.

The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) - 7.6

Stream On Paramount+, Hoopla, Kanopy, Tubi, & Crackle

Unmasked Phantom standing over Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera 1925

Possibly one of the first masked horror icons, the Phantom of the Opera has worn a variety of masks since he first lept off the pages of Gaston Leroux's original novel and onto the silver screen. Brought to life originally by the legendary Lon Chaney, the unmasking of the Opera Ghost has been recognized as one of the most iconic moments in horror history.

According to legend, the reveal of Chaney's face was so shocking that people supposedly fainted in the audience. While the masks and productions have certainly evolved since 1925, the image and motif of the Phantom's mask have carried over time and time again.

Halloween (1978) - 7.7

Stream On Shudder, AMC+, Hoopla, & The Roku Channel

Michael Myers leans over a railing from Halloween

Sometimes less is more, especially in the case of John Carpenter's original HalloweenConsidered by many to be one of the first true-to-form slasher movies, the film laid the foundation for the genre as fans know it today, including the idea of a creepy mask used to identify its escaped killer.

Before horror movies relied on a massive quantity of guts, gore, and viscera, there was a time when all one needed for a slasher movie was a mask, a sharp knife, and some suspenseful music. Since then, many horror characters have tried to follow Michaels's example, even the likes of Jason and Ghostface. At the end of the day, the Shape walked so they could run.

NEXT: Every Michael Myers Mask, Ranked