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Movies / On DVD / House of Wax
House of Wax

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House of Wax (1953)

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Reviews Counted:31

Fresh:29

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.2/10

Consensus: House of Wax is a 3-D horror delight that combines the atmospheric eerieness of the wax museum with the always chilling presence of Vincent Price.

Runtime: 2 hrs 45 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: André de Toth's remake of MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM is one of the first and best 3-D (stereoscopic) feature films, an alternative technology (like Cinemascope, Cinerama) used by 1950s directors... André de Toth's remake of MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM is one of the first and best 3-D (stereoscopic) feature films, an alternative technology (like Cinemascope, Cinerama) used by 1950s directors attempting to compete with the new threat of television. Professor Jarrod (Vincent Price) is a devoted wax figure sculptor for his museum in 1910s NYC. When his financial partner, Sidney Wallace (Paul Cavanagh), demands more sensational exhibits to increase profits, Jarrod refuses. The vengeful Wallace torches the museum, leaving Jarrod for dead. Miraculously, Jarrod survives (though his hands and legs are rendered useless) and builds a new House of Wax with help from threatening deaf-mute sculptor, Igor (Charles Bronson). The museum's popular "Chamber of Horrors" showcases recent crimes like the murder of Wallace, a victim of a cloaked, disfigured killer along with his fiancée, Cathy (Carolyn Jones). When Cathy's friend, Sue (Phyllis Kirk), visits the museum she makes a discovery that leads to the horrifying truth behind the House of Wax. With gasp inducing (and tongue-in-cheek) 3-D scenes like the museum fire, paddleball man, and can-can girls, de Toth creates an atmospheric film which stands up as a horror classic in 2-D as well. [More]

Starring: Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones

Starring: Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, Charles Bronson, Paul Picerni, Roy Roberts, Angela Clarke, Paul Cavanagh, Dabbs Greer

Director: Andre De Toth

Director: Andre De Toth
Screenwriter: Crane Wilbur, Charles S. Belden
Producer: Bryan Foy
Composer: David Buttolph

[See More Credits]

Reviews for House of Wax

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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Despite Price's presence this is little more than a footnote in American horror cinema.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment 1 Comment
03/16/04
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A film in which just about every technical and dramatic gambit has been judged to near perfection.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/24/07
David Parkinson
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

De Toth brings off one classic sequence with Kirk fleeing through the gaslit streets pursued by a shadowy figure in a billowing cloak.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Tom Milne
Tom Milne
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Vincent Price is truly creepy, hammy and eerie in this role.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
05/24/05
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
About.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/23/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
08/17/06
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

The first 3-D feature in WarnerColor and with Warner-Phonic sound is a magnificently macabre thriller and far superior to the earlier 3-D efforts.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Boxoffice Magazine

The effects are done with playfulness, zest, and some imagination (they range from a barker batting paddleballs in your face to a murderer leaping from the row in front of you), making this the most entertaining of the gimmick 3-Ds.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
09/24/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

No review available.

comment Comment
03/08/05
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Oh-so-delightfully creepy.

comment Comment
11/23/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

House of Wax is not particularly scary or suspenseful, but it is a lot of fun and effectively creates an atmosphere of dread using bright colors and shadows.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/16/05
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A fun, creepy movie with Vincent Price at his best. Watch closely for a young Charles Bronson.

comment Comment
09/27/02
Larry Carroll
Larry Carroll
Countingdown.com

...the film is still a crowd pleaser, its dusky shadows, turn-of-the-century setting, menacing villain, and bizarre museum as creepy as ever.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
08/08/03
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

Arguably the best of all 3-D movies.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/20/05
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/22/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/29/04
Nicolas Lacroix
Nicolas Lacroix
EnPrimeur.ca

An extremely effective "unmasking" scene at the climax ... stands as one of the great shock moments in horror cinema.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
07/23/08
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

Joyfully macabre.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
08/04/03
Bill Chambers
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central

One of the great horror classics.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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