Horror

Thriller

Mystery

House of Wax

Village Roadshow Pictures

Dark Castle Entertainment

Warner Bros. Pictures

United States of America

English

Elisha Cuthbert

Chad Michael Murray

Brian Van Holt

Paris Hilton

Jared Padalecki

Robert Ri'chard

Jon Abrahams

Damon Herriman

Dragicia Debert

Murray Smith

Thomas Adamson

Sam Harkess

Emma Lung

Andy Anderson

Kendal Rae

Robert Zemeckis

Steve Richards

Brian Edmonds

John Ottman

Joel Negron

Alex Alvarez

Herb Gains

Graham 'Grace' Walker

Stephen F. Windon

Jaume Collet-Serra

Bruce Berman

Graham Purcell

Susan Downey

Mary Gail Artz

Barbara Cohen

Joel Silver

Nicholas McCallum

Ben King

Riki Byrne

Marc Spicer

Loren Robinson

Chad Hayes

Carey Hayes

Erik Olsen

Richard Mirisch

William H. Burton Sr.

Matt Toll

Dilys Tan

James Colmer

Samantha Walker

Jac Charlton

Nick Walker

Jesse Moyes

Bruce Bright

Michel Aller

Tom Brkich

Greg Gilbert

Justin Ditter

Jack Watford

Craig Fison

Mark Kennedy

Billy Harmer

Maree McDonald

Angus Cameron

Jordan Barrow

Tapio Piitulainen

Axel Bartz

Vince Valitutti

Bob Booker

Andrew Conder

Benn Hyde

Wayne Diskin

Dianne Bennett

Phil Pastuhov

Anita Morgan

Paul Norris

Kerry Turnbull

Warwick King

Gary Sherline

Eddie Kim

Richard Adrian

John B. Anderson

John Breslin

Noel McCartney

Elly Kamal

Danny Baldwin

Jo Weeks

Karl Engeler

Mark Johnston

David Fletcher

Jamie Crooks

David Sanger

Stewart Sorby

Blake Archer

Frank J. Ellison

Rod Conder

Larry Kemp

Suzanne Evans-Booth

Bill Draper

Rick Giovinazzo

Sue Baldwin

Paul 'Salty' Brincat

Kim Pearce

Deanne Stratford

Christopher Alba

Mia Levinson

Troy Clarke

Adam Avery

Craig Bryant

Fiona Searson

Amanda Goodpaster

Mark Chataway

David Orr

Craig Clarke

Mary Jo Lang

Sebastian Foxx

Price Pethel

Engrossing and imaginative modern Mystery/Horror with Elisha Cuthbert 

RELEASED IN 2005 and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, "House of Wax" is a horror/slasher about six college students (4 dudes and 2 gals) who drive from Gainesville to Baton Rouge to attend a crucial football game. They end up camping in the woods somewhere off I-10 where some of the party discovers a mysterious town in the sticks that has a curious House of Wax. Horror and death ensue.

This is not a remake of the splendid 1953 Vincent Price cult flick of the same name. The only thing these two films have in common is their title, their genre, and the fact that they both involve a wax museum. It's therefore pointless to compare them as they are two totally different stories. Plot-wise, "House of Wax" is an obvious mixture of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) and the 1953 film of the same name, along with elements of more modern flicks like “Wrong Turn” (2003) and torture porn.

Although the first 12 minutes or so are unimpressive with too much annoying shaky cam, the story starts to capture your attention at the camp-out sequence. From there their encounter with a horrible stench, a local hick, and the mystery of the isolated town & wax museum gradually pulls you in. The fairly slow initial 50-minutes are a crucial character-building and mystery-developing foundation to the final horrific hour.

The major protagonist of the story is Carly, played by Elisha Cuthbert, who was only 22 during filming and never looked better with her curvy cuteness. The glamorous and infamous Paris Hilton also stars and does a commendable job, but Elisha basically blows her out of the water as far as all-around beauty goes.

Speaking of Ms. Hilton, in light of the ads to “Come see Paris Hilton die,” it’s no secret that her character does indeed buy the farm and, the way it happens, is pretty amusing. The film's worth checking out for this scene alone, especially if you despise her.

The picture was shot in Queensland, Australia, of all places, but it works alright as a stand-in for the Deep South, although I don’t recall any hills along I-10, as depicted in the background of the town. Speaking of the town, it doesn’t look like a Deep South town, but rather a contrived set. Nevertheless, the filmmaking is top-notch in all categories with the rest of the no-name cast doing a fine job. As a matter of fact, the six college kids are all rather likable; even Nick (Chad Michael Murray), Carly’s supposedly 'black sheep' twin, once he shows his true colors.

"House of Wax" works fabulously for what it IS, a mystery/slasher flick. The unlikely story is played straight and serious by all involved; there's no silly "comedic relief" or camp to be seen. Everyone knows going in that this isn't going to be "Gandhi." But if you're in the mood for an entertaining and imaginative mystery/horror picture, look no further. "House of Wax" has practically everything you’d want in such a film. Why do I describe it as imaginative? See the conclusion's spectacular melting wax museum and you'll understand; this is F/X at its finest.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 48 minutes. WRITERS: Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes.

GRADE: B+

Better than expected remake from 2005 with some decent gore and the effects during the finale looks pretty good. The cast was alright, reminder Elisha Cuthbert's time starring in movies (courtesy of 24) but she was fine and even Paris Hilton wasn't... awful I suppose. Nothing I'd really revisit anytime soon but all in all found it to be entertaining. **3.5/5**

Trapped Among the Wax

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House of Wax

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Cast

Elisha Cuthbert

Chad Michael Murray

Brian Van Holt

Paris Hilton

Jared Padalecki

Robert Ri'chard

Jon Abrahams

Damon Herriman

Dragicia Debert

Murray Smith

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