A mask takes the ability of knowing who or what something away. It is impossible to tell if the attacker is someone known, or a complete stranger. It sets up for a mystery that drags the viewer deeper into the horror film to see if they are able to find out who, or what, is behind the mask. A mask hides identity, connoting mystery and ambiguity, leaving the identity of the killer up to the imaginations of the audience.
A mask can allow a character to become superhuman, and impervious to pain. A perfect example of this is how the hockey mask was part of what caused Jason Voorhees to come back to life in the cemetery scene in Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI.
Also, Tomas in The Orphanage seems so mysterious and as he is a child wearing a mask it seems really freaky as we cannot tell if he is a murderer. At first, he appears to be the villain or have something to do with the disappearing boy, but we realise later that he was not involved in the abduction and is actually a ghost. Withholding information would work to our advantage because it keeps the audience guessing – even if they see the masked man and the other character doesn’t there is a mystery involved. The fear of the unknown is key to building the narrative of the opening sequence, but also for the movie as a whole. The mysterious man creates enigma, leaving the audience wanting to know more.
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