31 Days of Horror continues with the Vincent Price thriller, House of Wax. This is an awesome horror classic that must be seen by any fan of the horror genre. Vincent Price once again steals the show as a dedicated wax sculptor who becomes a madman after his museum is burned to the ground by his greedy partner. What follows is a series of events that are best left seen to be believed.
When House of Wax was originally released in theaters in 1953, it was in 3-D (that’s right, it’s NOT a new concept). There are plenty of moments where it’s obvious 3-D glasses would have been utilized, but these moments are gimmicky and don’t involve the horror elements of the film. Still, they are fun to watch.
Despite its age, House of Wax has stood the test of time, especially since it’s a period piece. It’s a lot of fun with plenty of references to Phantom of the Opera and Jack the Ripper. A definite must-see.
Now, we all know that there’s a 2003 “remake” of this movie starring Paris Hilton that isn’t all that great. If I were to remake the original House of Wax, which DOES NOT need to be remade, I would cast Christopher Walken in the Vincent Price role. Both are excellent character actors and it would be fun to see how Walken would portray such an obsessive madman. I think it would be pretty cool.
House of Wax is a horror classic that hasn’t had the recognition it rightfully deserves. If you haven’t seen it, see it. Vincent Price is the man!
**If you’re a Get Smart fan (the classic TV series, 1965-1970), there’s a great two-part ep in the fifth season called “House of Max” that satirizes the film in quite an amusing way. Highly recommended.