One of the most striking things about "House of Wax" is how uncannily it resembles the early outings of Hammer Studios (whose films were subsequently distributed by Warner Bros., as well)--period setting, fantastic production design, and a generally old-fashioned approach to horror; even today, it is brilliant to watch for aesthetic purposes alone. While lacking Hammer's dynamic duo of Cushing and Lee, we are given something just as good: Vincent Price, the loopy curator of a wax museum, who is supposedly torched in a fire as his business associate wants to collect the insurance money; later, Price re-emerges with a revived museum exhibiting scenes of historical violence. Andre de Toth's directorial style clearly had an influence on the likes of Hammer veterans Terence Fisher and Freddie Francis, but it is Price's compelling, darkly humorous performance that lies at the center of this "House." Without him, it would easily lose its well-sculpted edge. (One major complaint: the inclusion of seemingly needless scenes of leg-kicking and paddle-ball-playing to exhibit the film's then-innovative "3-D" gimmick.)
Review of House of Wax
