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Above Average Slasher

Andrew Estes | Maine | 05/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This new version of "House Of Wax" bears very little resemblance to the original, released over fifty years ago. That right there means certain people are gonna be angry about it. And I'm sure it must pain fans of the original to see this updated version with Paris Hilton as one of the stars. Nevertheless, if you are just looking for a good, fun slasher, with a hard R-rating (believe me, this puppy earned it), you could do much worse. Forget that this is a remake, and you will probably find yourself being pleasantly surprised. And if you still aren't sold, look at it this way: You get to watch Paris Hilton die!

"House Of Wax," which stars Chad Michael Murray (from WB's...well, just the WB I guess) and Elisha Cuthbert (who is way sexier than Hilton, without even trying) tells the familiar story of a group of twenty somethings, on their way to a football game, who pull over for the night to set up camp and get a little R & R. However, an automobile problem, a broken headlight, and some damn stinky squirrels and deer, cause this group to wander into a town that time seems to have forgotten. The town, however, has one interesting feature, and that is the infamous House Of Wax. Not only is everything inside made out of wax (or is it?), the House itself is Of Wax. Of course, things go horribly wrong. Why does it feel like the wax figures can see us? Who was that outside the window? Why does that guy keep flirting and leering at my girlfriend? The movie plays out much like classic slashers such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and even more like the 2003 "T.C.M." remake. Not only are both remakes extremely pumped up from the original, but you will notice many parellels between the two, from the bizarre torture scenes, to the creepy towns people, all the bases are covered with this movie. If you are a genre fan, you can't help but enjoy this movie. It does try a few different things and will take you by surprise a few times. Heck, one major surprise is Paris Hilton playing someone with moderate intellect. When someone says "What's that smell?" she doesn't want to find out. When she is being chased by the antagonist, she finds a weapon, and uses it. Not just your average teen slasher/splatter flick. As far as the gore goes, this movie has an abundance of it, but I found the wax much more effective. On a list of worst ways to die, I'd put that at the top! And when will people realize, if you keep picking at it, it won't heal (watch it and find out)? If it's possible to have a fear of wax, this movie may put it in you.

So try not to let the seemingly shallow nature of this movie turn you away. Afterall, it's actually quite good, and it's refreshing, in a world of nuetered "PG-13" "horror" flicks, that a nice, solid "R" comes along and gives us the flanking we so badly needed. It's got it's flaws, and it does take a while for the film to build momentum, but if you want thrills, this one's got it. Just try not to cheer or laugh too much when Paris has her big moment..."

A TERRIFIC GOOD RIDE WITH ALL THE THINGS A SLASHER FAN WANTS

Paulo Leite | Lisbon, Portugal | 10/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At first, I wasn't expecting anything from this movie... I thought "well, here we go again for another stupid slasher with nothing new to offer".

But I was wrong. In fact I found this film to be a terrific new entry into the slasher genre.

The screenplay is very nice. I does not start to kill people right away.. it develops the story... lets you know ter characters... and THEN... just when you are dying to see some killings... it starts.

...And never lets go. The plot is better than you'd expect. Not the usual "six kids get to a wax museum". Instead they get separated in three groups (which opens the space for three almost-independent storylines). This may not look much... but in fact it allows the screenplay to build some plausability and complications. The characters come and go separate ways and the script creates great shock moments exactly at the moment different storylines meet.

And the killings... they are brutal, sadistic... and go beyond the usual "slash-and-you're-dead"... In fact (laughs) nobody dies at first. The screenplay takes the detail up to the limit. All the killings are beautifully constructed.

Without wanting to spoil the fun, I just should say this film goes further on the sadistic things the killers do. Much further than what was acceptable years ago.

I think this film brought new breath to the genre.

Casting is good, makeup is fine. Directing is solid, art direction is discreet enough... I really liked it.

Of course there are better films made 20 or 30 years ago. But this one sits along the best slashers in the last 10 years (if it is not THE best one in 10 years).

But beware! This film is very cruel! Maybe you would like to pass on it if you play the piano, if you love your fingers... or if you like to walk barefooted.

By the way... It has nothing to do with the 1953 Vincent Price version... just the title and what it suggests.

Obviously, this DVD is a great buy. Watch it alone... or with friends... with 2 tons of popcorn. Great!
"

HOUSE OF WAX surprised me as being chilling, thrilling, and

Jeremy G. | New Jersey | 12/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hadn't heard great things about HOUSE OF WAX. Knowing Paris Hilton was one of the stars, I assumed that the bad comments I read had to be right. But one afternoon, when I was incredibly bored, I decided to rent HOUSE OF WAX as a way to be entertained for the day. Boy, was I amazed to find that it was one of the most fantastic and creepiest slasher films I had ever seen. True, slasher films are usually terribly made, contain a plot that goes nowhere, and gorgeous actors and actresses. Though HOUSE OF WAX has many qualities of a slasher, it's an exception to the garbage everyone knows and hates.

Six teens (though Carly and her brother Nick are the stars) on their way to a football game find themselves victims to the evil that lies in an abandoned town. The only remaining residents are two murderous brothers--and those that they turn into wax sculptures. Now, Carly and her five friends must do whatever it takes to protect themselves from falling prey and becoming the next victims of the deadly house of wax. Although it doesn't take that long for you to figure out who's going to survive and who's going to die, you'll find yourself gasping with suspense when you see one of the characters drop dead.

While others may disagree with me on this, I thought the acting wasn't that bad. Elisha Cuthbert (Carly) played a great job as the heroine, and when Jared Padalecki (Wade) was in pain, so was I. And while Paris Hilton (Paige) definitely is not going to win an Oscar for this role, or for any role, but her acting wasn't that bad. The only acting problem I have is that Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray (Nick) had WAY too much chemistry on screen. They were supposed to be brother and sister, but at many parts throughout the film, I was getting the impression that they were more than just siblings.

I'm not the type of person who gets scared by horror movies easily, and in the daytime, I thought I wouldn't be frightened at all. But at many, many times, I found myself covered in fear. The gory parts are probably what scared me the most. The make-up person gets major props to pulling off some of the most hideous things I have ever seen. But the make-up person isn't the only one who deserves credit--the entire cast and crew do. HOUSE OF WAX managed to give me an interesting story, scare me, and present great actors. When a horror movie is able to pull off all of the above, you can tell that it's a winner."

Expect nothing and be surprised, it's good

T. Sherrod | TX United States | 08/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good scary/suspense/slasher movie, so why should the critics like it? They usually don't anyway. I went into the theater expecting nothing and really liked the movie. Now take into account I have never seen the "original" (by the way this is not a re-make, it only borrows the name) so I had no idea what to expect. Ok, I really went to see it because of Elisha Cuthbert (total babe!) but after a few minutes I found myself into the movie. In this type of movie, it is a good idea to pick things out and remember them, and of coarse I did not. I would give an example, but I do not want to give anything away here. But I had to ask on a message board at imdb to find the answer and the movie fooled me. If you have not seen it, what I just wrote will make no sense so skip my last sentence. Anyway, I am not gonna go over what others have already beat to death, no pun intended, like how Paris dies and things like that. If you want to see a scary movie, then see this with NO expectations, and you should not be disappointed. I liked it enough to buy the DVD when it comes out."