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Don't listen to the negative reviews

Crappy film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

"House of Wax" is an entertaining horror yarn that gave the world the Vincent Price we all know and love. Prior to this highly successful film, Price had been a dependable character actor. "House of Wax" started his second, far more successful career as a villain in such films as "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" and "Masque of the Red Death".Price plays Henry Jarrod, a sculptor and curator of a wax museum in the 19th century. His works depict famous historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette. An eccentric, he refers to his sculptures as his "friends", but his business partner is only interested in the profit: so much so that he burns the museum down for the insurance money. Jarrod is presumed dead but then shows up again eighteen months later, this time with a new exhibition of works more macabre and even more eerily "lifelike"."House of Wax" is an enjoyable horror film which was first screened in 3D. Look out for the trick where a barker hits his paddle-ball at the the camera, commenting that he's aiming for our popcorn. It also features some nifty sight gags which play on the realism of the sculptures, and perhaps one or two shocking moments. Most shocking to me, however, was hearing afterwards that that was a young Charles Bronson as Jarrod's deaf-mute servant. I had never seen him so young, and looking completely different.

This is a great fifties horror film. As is often the case, Vincent Price plays a kind and gentle man. He is a great artist, sculpting some of the greatest historical figures in wax. His work is considered amazing. Unfortunately, he has a greedy partner who needs money. This guy sets fire to the museum to collect insurance money. Price's character is though to have died in the fire, but it turns out he has been badly burned and deformed. He is also filled with anger and vengeance. He sets out to rebuild the museum. Interestingly, some of his figures are quite lifelike. One looks a lot like his former partner. Others look like people who did him wrong. We can guess what he is doing. Because Price is such a great actor, he can be so menacing, so cruel. We have to root for him because the cause of his rancor is not his fault. Wonderful horror film.

I had a brief 'huh?' moment when that carnival barker (Reggie Rymal) showed up for the opening of the House of Wax Museum. It was only after I read a few of the reviews here that I learned this was originally a 3D film and those paddle ball blasts would have been a real highlight for movie goers of the era. Otherwise the guy's appearance was almost as out of place as that 'Intermission' sequence that might have lasted about ten seconds, requiring one to actually hit the pause button to get a cup of coffee.It's been a while since I've seen Lionel Atwill in the 1933 version of this film, "Mystery of the Wax Museum". Both share a similar story line and choosing the better of the two is probably a matter of personal preference. I like both Atwill and Vincent Price so for me it's a toss up. However Price's first appearance in the picture as the figure in black was almost comical to me, limping along like some deranged Zorro. He even had two accomplices dressed exactly the same way when he stole the body of Cathy Gray (Carolyn Jones) from the city morgue.I guess it's no big thing, but if you're paying attention you probably question as I did how the crippled Jarrod wasn't able to stay in character with his disability as time went on. When he made Matthew Burke his first victim and went chasing Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk) through the city streets at night he was hobbling along with his deformed foot at an awkward angle, but by the time he's fighting off the cops at the finale, he's running up stairs with the agility of an athlete.The biggest surprise for me in this picture was seeing Charles Bronson show up as Henry Jarrod's (Price) assistant at the wax museum. He was still using his real name Buchinsky at the time but depending on the movie or TV credit, it was spelled differently, making me wonder if that was intended or just a matter of getting his name spelled wrong by film makers. Some of his credits even list him as 'Chas' as his name showed up in the credits for a Roy Rogers TV episode back in the Fifties.Well aside from all that, Vincent Price fans ought to have a pretty good time with this one. This was the film that launched his eventual status as a horror film icon, making me an instant fan as a kid with the likes of "The Fly" and "House on Haunted Hill" in the late Fifties. He had that great voice and terrific presence as an actor, ranking him right up there with the other greats like Karloff and Chaney.

Prof. Henry Jarrod loves his wax figures that he has created with love and passion by his own hands. The wax works-of-art seems to be the professors only love outside of the historical museum itself - but one wax figure stands tall over the rest Marie Antoinette, the professors most cherished wax-work. He will seek revenge on those that have destroyed everything he's worked for and everything he loves.This is the best version of the film I have seen (although I have yet to see the 2005 remake to fairly judge).This is a good late night film to watch - maybe making it (House of Wax) a double feature with the original "Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)".7.5/10