House of Wax

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: May 6, 2005

7.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 593 Ratings

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User Reviews

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ManioMar 21, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only take-away is seeing Paris Hilton getting a spear impaled through her head.

The movie on its own is incredibly dull, and the characters are extremely unlikeable, case in point with Paris Hilton, who at-least gets killed off in a hilarious way. The horror is really dull too. You'd think a film relying on a town full of "wax figures" would be able to employ some great horror feeling, but all it pulls off is lackluster fluff.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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jimmytancrediMay 29, 2011

Seriously, I donâ

2 of 17 users found this helpful215

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davenbettridgeNov 14, 2011

The film makers do a really good job of creating characters whom you wish would shut up and die so when the time comes for their horrific deaths you are relieved. Its also not a good thing that Paris Hilton is the movie's most convincingThe film makers do a really good job of creating characters whom you wish would shut up and die so when the time comes for their horrific deaths you are relieved. Its also not a good thing that Paris Hilton is the movie's most convincing actress either. The set and props of the House of Wax scenes were pretty good but mostly misused. Just another lamed out horror movie.… Expand

1 of 32 users found this helpful131

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WallyS.Dec 8, 2005

The remakes just keep getting worst, and here it achieves the unnatural gift of beeing stupid and dreadfull, the teens have no skill, and even though the art direction is excellent, everything else is trash.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

imthenoobNov 10, 2012

It was a pretty solid movie suprisingly. Not much in terms of suspense though but it was interesting enough to keep you watching. I enjoyed it and saw no real problem with it.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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kyle20ellisMar 28, 2022

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 aConsidering 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… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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FilipeNetoAug 23, 2020

This film is a remake of a horror film from the Fifties which, despite its age and not being so visually striking, is more interesting from the point of view of the story it tells us. Despite this, this film gives us more or less what itThis film is a remake of a horror film from the Fifties which, despite its age and not being so visually striking, is more interesting from the point of view of the story it tells us. Despite this, this film gives us more or less what it intends to give us and there are a series of moments in which the film, if it is not capable of frightening, at least impresses and makes some pleasant tension.

The film begins as an ordinary teen film, with young people traveling to watch a sport match. They camp at night in the middle of a clearing but soon realize that there are people nearby. In the morning, a problem in one of the cars leads the group to ask for help in a nearby village, where a large wax museum visually stands out, totally made of wax, floor to roof, passing through all its interior. From here, we have a slasher film quite similar to so many others, where the characters trying to escape from a murderer who goes on killing them, one after another.

One thing that stands out is the number of clichés. Starting with the characters (we have the couple who only think about sex, the good-hearted hooligan, the nice girl who saves the day, the stupid boyfriend thought to be cut to pieces by the villain etc.) to the villains, one of them being a sort of clone from Jason Vorhees. The climax is somewhat predictable, however it makes good use of the fire of the 1950s film.

I think the cast did the best they could with the material they received. It is not brilliant and there are no great actors here who can provide us with inspired interpretations. On the contrary, it is a cast of strangers. Even so, I would highlight the good performance of Chad Michael Murray and Elisha Cuthbert, both very convincing and skilled in the task of giving their characters a charisma and sympathy that holds the audience's attention. Paris Hilton, famous for the worst and most uninteresting reasons, appears here as an actress, which she is not and will never be. The proof is this film, where she does nothing but sex, appear half-naked and die. In fact, most of the cast is there to be slaughtered, as usual. Brian Van Holt is the face of evil in this film and was able to truly make chills with his cynical and brutal performance.

Technically, it is a regular film, where the sets stands out for its excellent quality, in particular the wax museum, as is evident, but also the church and the villain's house, rich in details. Cinematography is good, but not surprising, and the lighting was very well done and well used to amplify tension and create the necessary suspense environment to make the film work. The deaths are very graphic and this can please fans of the gore. The characterization and make-up, in particular Vincent's, was very well done and is another element taken advantage of in the film of the 1950s. Less noticeable is the soundtrack, quite bland.… Expand

0 of 10 users found this helpful010

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