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House of Wax (2005) Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 11:10 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 27 August 2009)

Hard to say why this movie is being said to be a remake of the 1933 movie "Mystery of the Wax Museum" and the 1953 one "House of Wax". It's only similar in title but its story and characters are all totally different. Seems like a cheap advertising trick, claiming this movie to be a remake of 2 classic fine genre movies. But oh well, having said that "House of Wax" isn't a too bad genre movie, even though it also hardly stands out.

It's a typical genre movie, that is being a teenage slasher flick, with all of the usual ingredients in it. It doesn't really try to stand out and more remains on the safe side. It's mostly the reason why "House of Wax" is being a very average movie to watch.

The movie drags on quite long in its first halve, that only seems to be in the movie to fill up its time. There is hardly anything happening in the first halve and it really takes its time to build up things and sets up its characters. It really isn't until the movie its second halve that the movie becomes a true slasher. It however also isn't the best slasher around, since the movie is lacking really in some good main characters. Instead it has far too many characters in it that are all too much alike each other.

It's a well made movie though, that is professionally looking and obviously cost a couple of hand full of dollars to make. It has a decent atmosphere, although the movie is being a bit too dark at times.

No, don't watch this movie expecting a couple of good and original scares or true great gory moments. As an horror movie it simply isn't being much good but as a slasher-flick it's simply decent enough.

6/10

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House of Wax (1953) Directed by André De Toth

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 11:06 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 23 August 2009)

It's actually so this movie works out better than the 1933 original, due to the fact that this movie is more being an horror. It has the right style and ingredients and gets supported by a great story and cast.

Basically this movie has everything in it a typical good '50's horror production should need. But what makes this movie better to watch than just the average genre movie entry from the same era is its compelling story, that perhaps is not typical horror-wise. It's also a bit of a tragic story with a tragic main character, just like is the case in "Phantom of the Opera", which is also an excellent horror story.

Yet the movie foremost remains an horror, much more than was the case with the original. In this movie the 'monster' or murderer is showed with his face already very early on in the movie. He does a lot more evil. Also with Vincent Price you have a great and classy villainous main character, who can act with any material.

Also look out for the still very young Charlies Bronson in a non-speaking role. He used to play lots of roles early in his career before really breaking through in the '60's.

The movie also has a great atmosphere that perhaps is a bit more classy than usual is the case with an '50's genre movie. Or this perhaps is also due to the fact that this movie has a better and more compelling story than usual, which uplifts the movie on basically every level. Funny fun about this movie as well is that this was the first ever 3-D movie. It's probably also part of the reason why this movie became such an huge financial success for the Warner Bros. Studios.

A great genre movie from the '50's!

8/10

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