X
- 2005
- R
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 53 m
- 2005
- R
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 53 m
Summary What begins as a weekend getaway for six friends becomes a terrifying fight for their lives in House of Wax, an exciting re-imagining of the 1953 horror classic. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written By: Charles Belden, Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes
- 2005
- R
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 53 m
- 2005
- R
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 53 m
House of Wax
41
7.9
Where to Watch
Summary What begins as a weekend getaway for six friends becomes a terrifying fight for their lives in House of Wax, an exciting re-imagining of the 1953 horror classic. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written By: Charles Belden, Chad Hayes, Carey W. Hayes
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 36 Critic Reviews
41
14% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
58% Mixed
21 Reviews
21 Reviews
28% Negative
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 36 Critic Reviews
41
14% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
58% Mixed
21 Reviews
21 Reviews
28% Negative
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
This movie gives it to you, as no movie has in some years. Okay, if that's not your part of the swamp, don't go into it.
Sadly, director Jaume Serra has taken the Gothic premise of a madman casting his living victims in wax and, no doubt at the behest of copycat-hungry producers, turned House of Wax into yet another teens-versus-hillbillies slasher flick
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 557 User Ratings
7.9
74% Positive
410 Ratings
410 Ratings
14% Mixed
79 Ratings
79 Ratings
12% Negative
68 Ratings
68 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 557 User Ratings
7.9
74% Positive
410 Ratings
410 Ratings
14% Mixed
79 Ratings
79 Ratings
12% Negative
68 Ratings
68 Ratings
Treats us to some feverish decapitating, juicy stabbing and non-anesthetized fingertip removal.
Acting is similarly routine with the glorious exception of Hilton, who is so bad she steals the show.
This is slash and burn strictly by the numbers. There's never an ounce of doubt where the movie's going; the only suspense is how long it's going to take to get there and how high the body count is going to get.
A sadistically bland entertainment that oversells its reveals and lets its suspense drip so long that it would be nice if something (anything!) happened.
Considering Paris Hilton was in it I was actually dreading this House of Wax. Some may wonder whether it bears any resemblance to the classic Vincent Price of the same name, other than the name it doesn't at all. I'd rather call it a re-imagining(and an inferior one at that) in alternative to a remake. And actually, despite it not being perfect and also my fears House of Wax was not that bad. It has its flaws, Paris Hilton not helped by her shallow character was awful, a few of the characters are less likable and developed well as others, the screenplay is rather cheesy at times and while Chad Michael Murray is handsome and does appeal to you I am not entirely sure whether he convinced me as the bad boy of the group. However, the rest of the acting is not bad at all, Elisha Cuthbert is actually very good and Brian Van Holt is downright scary as the antagonist. The characters are in a way stereotypical but they are written in a way that makes them generally somewhat likable. House of Wax is not bad to look at either, the camera technique used I am not a fan of but actually it is used effectively and there have been far worse cases of it, but the sets and lighting are wonderfully eerie. The story is on the formulaic side, but not dull or intelligence insulting. Other than Holt, what was impressive about House of Wax was the tense atmosphere, the imaginative and very gory deaths and also the fact that I did find myself amused or frightened throughout. Considering what House of Wax could have been, that is an achievement. All in all, not that bad, not perfect by any stretch but much worse things have happened. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Report
Production Company
Warner Bros.,
Village Roadshow Pictures,
Dark Castle Entertainment
Release Date May 6, 2005
Duration 1 h 53 m
Rating R
Tagline Gejagt. Ermordet. Zur Schau gestellt. (Hunted.Murdered.Displayed.)
Website
http://www.houseofwaxmovie.com/
Awards
Teen Choice Awards
• 3 Wins & 7 Nominations
Razzie Awards
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
• 2 Nominations
