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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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21 - 31 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

...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

Joyfully macabre.

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

No review available.

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

Campy, overrated remake of the 1933 classic, Mystery of the Wax Museum.

comment Comment
03/19/03
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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

No review available.

comment Comment
08/11/02
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

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

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 plot is pure hokum from beginning to end, but throw the silver-tongued Vincent Price into any film as a tormented villain and you've already won half the battle.

Full Review Source: ToxicUniverse.com | comment Comment
01/27/02
Jeremiah Kipp
Jeremiah Kipp
ToxicUniverse.com

A more conventional and not as absorbing remake of Mystery of the Wax Museum...

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/06/01
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

One of the great horror classics.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com
 
 
21 - 31 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2
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