As a long-time horror enthusiast and self-proclaimed connoisseur of all things scary, I must say that my viewing journey led me to cross paths with the underrated gem known as “House of Wax.” And let me tell you, dear reader, this movie has left quite an impression on me.
CAUTION: The following information reveals the entire plot of the 2005 movie “House of Wax”, so if you haven’t watched it yet and wish to maintain its surprises, exercise care before continuing.
In 2005, I was on the brink of my long-lasting fascination with horror films, yet I had little desire to watch that year’s remake of the 1953 classic “House of Wax,” which starred Paris Hilton. To be honest, I wasn’t a fan of her, and the promotional tactics for her death scene in the movie turned me off. However, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, I found it quite enjoyable.
Initially, when I was around 12 years old, I encountered Jaume Collet-Serra’s first directorial venture from Dark Castle Entertainment – a chilling tale about a gang of pals who stumble upon a wax museum concealing a startling secret within its lifelike statues. Yet, upon revisiting it at 30 years old, I maintain that it remains one of the finest horror movies to emerge during an era when the genre was struggling. Even our review of House of Wax might have been too critical of its straightforward plotline, overlooking its engaging and occasionally eerie aspects. Indeed, I am eager to champion this horror movie remake that, in my opinion, does not disappoint, presenting the following reasons for its appeal.
The Twin Theme Lends To Some Amusing Storytelling
Among our mandatory group of youthful, tragic road travelers, the movie House of Wax primarily highlights Carly (Elisha Cuthbert) and her twin brother Nick (Chad Michael Murray from One Tree Hill), who reveal that their parents categorized her as the good twin and him as the “bad” one. This competitive relationship is mirrored by the film’s villains – a mechanic named Bo and his artist brother Vincent, portrayed by Brian Van Holt.
The movie’s initial scene suggests a favoritism towards one brother over the other, seemingly Vincent due to his odd habit of covering people in wax. However, it turns out that Bo was actually the troubled sibling. Additionally, we discover that Nick hides more than what meets the eye, as he takes blame for a friend’s grand theft auto and rescues his sister when she holds her captive. This is an unusual touch in slasher movies, but I admire House of Wax for its attempt to connect villains with victims in such a way.
Damon Herriman Is One Creepy Scene-Stealer
As a gamer, one often overlooked gem in the movie “House of Wax” is the exceptional acting by Damon Herriman. He might not ring a bell for many, but he’s a familiar face from the cast of “Justified,” where he played Dewey Crowe. Or perhaps you remember him as the man who portrayed Charles Manson in both Netflix’s “Mindhunter” and Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Initially portrayed as “Roadkill Driver” and later unveiled as Bo and Vincent’s other sibling, Lester, Herriman is introduced towards the end primarily to dismiss the overused trope of the menacing redneck in slasher movies. Yet, his unsettling looks at Carly, ominous dialogue, and affection for his Bowie knife transform his limited screen time into an intensely gripping and memorable experience.
The Waxing Process Is Deeply Unsettling
Talking about extraordinary and unforgettable, I can’t help but remember the striking moment that showed the lifelike quality of the House of Wax sculptures: there were actual people hidden beneath them! Just before his role in the House of Wax, Jared Padalecki, known for sharing the limelight with Jensen Ackles on Supernatural, underwent a “sculpting” process that involved transforming him into Wade, his character in this movie.
Wade is made motionless by a chemical substance, yet remains alive, as Vincent melts hot wax onto him which molds to his body and seals him in once it hardens. This method of demise, though I’ve witnessed many gruesome deaths in slasher films, stands out as one of the most chilling and imaginative ways to perish.
I Think This Is Easily Paris Hilton’s Best Performance
Previously, I explained that learning Paris Hilton’s character perishes in House of Wax initially sparked my interest. However, I failed to share an additional detail: her acting as Paige within the film managed to alter my initial negative impression of her as well.
I’m not implying she had an exceptional performance, but I also don’t think it deserved the harsh criticism it received. Interestingly enough, Roger Ebert shared a similar viewpoint when he reviewed “House of Wax.” In his words, “she is no better or worse than the typical Dead Post-Teenager, and does exactly what she is required to do in a movie like this, with all the skill, admittedly finite, that is required.” I’d even go so far as to say this is her best acting work yet, and let me add, her death scene is particularly impressive, or should I say, quite “killer”.
Elisha Cuthbert’s Carly Is A Smart Final Girl
Though not critically panned to the same extent as her fellow actor, I strongly feel that Elisha Cuthbert’s role in “House of Wax” warrants more appreciation. In truth, her character stands out as one of the well-crafted modern horror movie Final Girls for her era.
Carly isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes too, but what sets her apart is her ability to make shrewd decisions, like locking Bo out of his truck when she grows suspicious or demonstrating remarkable resilience by prying open her superglued lips. Unlike many characters in slasher movies who are merely there for the horror, Carly was never a character I didn’t feel compassionate towards and root for.
The Final Act Is Spectacular
One more point about the film “House of Wax” that my admired critic Roger Ebert concurs with me on, is the breathtaking final scene. The museum, which is a real wax structure, starts to melt when a fire erupts while Carly, Nick, Bo, and Vincent are trapped within during this disaster.
The practical melting effects on the house were stunningly realistic and thrilling, leaving me at the edge of my seat as the brother and sister frantically searched for an escape. In my opinion, this film’s execution of such a creative concept was flawless, making it one of the most undervalued horror movies from its era.
As For The Negatives…
Absolutely, there are elements in “House of Wax” that prevent it from being exceptional, as far as I’m concerned. Earlier, I pointed out several missteps, like when Dalton finds Wade on display at the museum and tries to free him from his wax mold. While Dalton meant well, he should have ceased his attempts once he noticed that his friend’s skin was peeling off with the wax.
Regarding Wade, it appears Carly doesn’t show much emotional distress upon finding his freshly waxed-over body (a point that could be seen as a weakness in her character). However, I didn’t find these flaws to be problematic like I did with the film’s initial 20-30 minutes. Unfortunately, those opening scenes were tough to sit through due to their heavy character expositions, which felt forced, and editing choices that seemed common at the time but were frustratingly frequent and jarring.
Fortunately, I find it easy to overlook House of Wax‘s flaws since, among admittedly not-so-smart slasher films from the 2000s, it was incredibly enjoyable. In essence, when considering its merits, it’s quite satisfying. After all, isn’t that what one hopes for in such a film?
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2024-09-08 01:07