House of Wax (1953)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  House of Wax lives up to its reputation as one of Vincent Price's finest films. The film can also be a contender for an early giallo film story-wise. It seems to have been more of a mainstream success than most horror movies at the time and I'm not quite sure why, although I… More
  House of Wax lives up to its reputation as one of Vincent Price's finest films. The film can also be a contender for an early giallo film story-wise. It seems to have been more of a mainstream success than most horror movies at the time and I'm not quite sure why, although I suspect Vincent Price's presence had a lot to do with it. The supporting cast does a fine job in their roles, and the actual idea of *SPOILER ALERT* keeping mannequins as wax dummies is very creepy all on its own. I think it's just a combination of things and everything falling into place perfectly to make a great little horror film. It's more about the character than the horror, which is part of what I like about it, and it's also a prelude to what Vincent Price would later do with his character in The Abominable Dr. Phibes. Not that that was seen in his future at the time, but if you've seen both films you cannot miss the similarities. It may be slightly dated, and the remake may have tarnished it slightly and made it seem more conventional than it really is, but it holds up quite well.

• Sophie B

  
  Such an enjoyable and interesting film which kept me gripped and involved as I tried to figure out the twists and turns as they happened on screen. A brilliant cast which really does the characters justice, especially Price, Gray and Picerni. Definitely watch again.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Simple but effective, look for Charles Bronson in a support role.

• Jeff "

  
  The original House Of Wax starring Vincent Price is a masterpiece of horror. The film is a remake of the 1933 film The Mystery Of The Wax Museum and it succeeds in being a classic film all it's own. House Of Wax is a terrifying film that is superbly acted about a wax sculptor who… More
  The original House Of Wax starring Vincent Price is a masterpiece of horror. The film is a remake of the 1933 film The Mystery Of The Wax Museum and it succeeds in being a classic film all it's own. House Of Wax is a terrifying film that is superbly acted about a wax sculptor who creates wax sculptures using people. With a fairly creepy premise for a film, and with Vincent Price in tow, House Of Wax is an accomplished horror film that remains a classic of the genre. The film is a near flawless masterpiece and its atmosphere is terrifying. Vincent Price is simply phenomenal in his role and it's understandable why he's such a horror icon. Some of the scenes that stuck with me is the nighttime chase sequence and when a character recognizes one of her friends that disappeared a few days earlier in the wax museum as a sculpture. The film is superbly acted and directed. This is one of the essential classic horror films to watch. An enjoyable and atmospheric horror film, House Of Wax is a truly well paced horror film that brings on genuine jolts. If you want to see a true classic of horror, then look no further than House Of Wax. The film is along with other horror greats such as King Kong, The Mummy and The Blob, one of the most enduring classics of the genre. Also worth mentioning in this review is a small part by a very young Charles Bronson. As a Bronson fan, I enjoyed this very much. House Of Wax remains one of best classic horror films ever filmed.

• Michael E

  
  An interesting plot and a very dark movie for the 50s

• AJ V

  
  I loved this movie because of Price and how creepy the wax figures looked. The story isn't that different from other wax museum horror movies, but with the cast, it's entertaining, and I really enjoyed this movie.

• Greg S

  
  Vincent Price stars as a wax sculptor who survives a fire that destroys his life's work, then, despite his ruined hands and embittered mind, opens a new wax museum featuring a sensationalistic chamber of horrors recreating classic and recent acts of violence. A darn good b-movie… More
  Vincent Price stars as a wax sculptor who survives a fire that destroys his life's work, then, despite his ruined hands and embittered mind, opens a new wax museum featuring a sensationalistic chamber of horrors recreating classic and recent acts of violence. A darn good b-movie with nice acting, action, colorful sets, reliable comic relief and satisfying light chills.

• Lafe F

  
  A spectacular story of a wax museum really made of human castings with Vincent Price as the madman. Tame these days, it must've been a bit shocking to see the elevator hanging scene. The fire effects are superb, with all the wax figures melting. When I saw clips, I always… More
  A spectacular story of a wax museum really made of human castings with Vincent Price as the madman. Tame these days, it must've been a bit shocking to see the elevator hanging scene. The fire effects are superb, with all the wax figures melting. When I saw clips, I always thought that was at the end of the film, but it's actually near the beginning of the film. If you think about it, wax-coating actual corpses wouldn't actually work, once the decomposing begins. The movie could've used some gorey revealing of the decayed skeletal bodies inside the figurines once they were broken open. The plot has some boring police investigations which slows things down in the middle. The story predates Psycho, which may have taken some of its elements from House of Wax. Charles Bronson (er Buchinsky) is creepy as the mute assistant Igor; but what a character name! Seeing this all in 3-D on a big screen would've been wonderful. I'm curious how the blatant 3-D effects of paddle balls and can-can dancers would've popped out of the screen.

• Pierluigi P

  
  The always cool Vincent Price plays again a vengeful devilish man in this delightful 3-D film.

• Ken S

  
  I got to see this in the theater in it's original 3D presentation. I have 2 words for you. Paddle Ball

• Dr Blood  

  
  Vincent Price is at his sinister best in this tale of psychotic revenge and obsession.

• Cindy I

  
  A fun spooky movie about a maimed crazy sculptor. Creepy, exciting -- one of Vincent Price's best. He shows so much love for his wax creations that you want to help him put out the fire that destroys them all. Originally filmed in 3D, but I've never gotten the chance to see… More
  A fun spooky movie about a maimed crazy sculptor. Creepy, exciting -- one of Vincent Price's best. He shows so much love for his wax creations that you want to help him put out the fire that destroys them all. Originally filmed in 3D, but I've never gotten the chance to see it that way. Maybe one day...

• Michael G

  
  A damn cool horror movie. Even if you don't get scared, Vincent Price is worth it!

• Christopher O

  
  A creepy scary film starring the Master of the Macabre Vincent Price and featuring early performances of Charles Bronson and Carolyn Jones who would later be Morticia Adams. The 3-d effects are amusing and the scary plot holds up but the film was suitably updated and remade in 2005. A… More
  A creepy scary film starring the Master of the Macabre Vincent Price and featuring early performances of Charles Bronson and Carolyn Jones who would later be Morticia Adams. The 3-d effects are amusing and the scary plot holds up but the film was suitably updated and remade in 2005. A Halloween Must.

• Brandon K

  
  Very pleasantly surprised with this and I think it has a really smart script. I spent a better part of the movie trying to do a Vincent Price impression. My favorite part was when I realized that the movie was originally in 3-D (I watched the 2-D version) because I kept asking… More
  Very pleasantly surprised with this and I think it has a really smart script. I spent a better part of the movie trying to do a Vincent Price impression. My favorite part was when I realized that the movie was originally in 3-D (I watched the 2-D version) because I kept asking myself, "Why does this gentleman keep hitting a paddleball directly at the camera for no reason?" A waxy classic.

• Sylvester K

  
  Vincent Price is the man â?¥ A must see horror film, in the standard of the past was considered very chilling.

• John M

  
  I found nothing exceptional about it, seems to have lost its impact over time. The acting is not particularly good either. By the way, has little or nothing to do with "House of Wax" in 2005, so you can´t compare it with, I stick to this new version. "House of… More
  I found nothing exceptional about it, seems to have lost its impact over time. The acting is not particularly good either. By the way, has little or nothing to do with "House of Wax" in 2005, so you can´t compare it with, I stick to this new version. "House of Wax" is not a bad movie,but not quite as good either.

• Henrik S

  
  A late Victorian revenge romp featuring Vincent Price who does what he does best amidst a rather weak and dull supporting cast. When a sculptor pf wax figures remains disfigured in an attempted murder he plans if very own and sinister form of revenge. The story is follows the basic… More
  A late Victorian revenge romp featuring Vincent Price who does what he does best amidst a rather weak and dull supporting cast. When a sculptor pf wax figures remains disfigured in an attempted murder he plans if very own and sinister form of revenge. The story is follows the basic formula of revenge movies but fails to create an interesting anti-hero as Vincent Price's character is more or less a loony from the get-go. so any notion of moral dilemma found in other revenge movies is missing. But this movie was intended to be a box-office smasher and not a philosophical contemplation of any sort anyhow, a 3D film upon its release the film was hugely successful and while I can understand it from a sheer entertainment point of view, especially in the context of its time of release and the cinematic sensation it must have caused on a big screen, the movie feels awkwardly disjointed today. While Vincent Price's screen presence is unquestionable, he seems oddly out of place because the film is lacking a nemesis to balance as well as show off the villain's danger level, instead we have some bloodless policemen and some scream queens. The film frequently (!) relies on showing grotesque and eerie wax figures to create tension and horror which works good on a big screen but not as good on a small TV, but is nice to see a niche art so strongly represented in a movie, if only for the sake of shocking the audience. Still, the film never looses its "Sideshow" feeling, wax figures over wax figures and "3D" scenes (which look very odd and pointless in 2D, funny). The movie is actually more of a thriller than a horror movie an not as otherworldly as you might expect from the premise and from a film involving Vincent Price. Here and there, a spark of slick direction shimmers through, as the House of Wax burns down in the first few scenes of the film (no spoiler don't worry) and a Hitchcockian midnight chase, but all in all. the film steers clear from innovation and remains uninspired and conservatively executed. An average movie with a nice premise which suffers from a lock of antagonist for Price and the reliance of the "wax figure" horror and 3D effects to create tension. Furthermore, it is missing the complexity and dialectic level of other "revenge" movies, a cross-over love interest might have been the answer. Good if you are a genre enthusiast. HX

• Rose G

  
  This is the first Vincent Price film that I saw and it is now clear to me why he is such a unique character of the horror classics. I would honestly say that I didn't find this as scary as I expected, being someone more inclined to liking gory horror movies, but the wax… More
  This is the first Vincent Price film that I saw and it is now clear to me why he is such a unique character of the horror classics. I would honestly say that I didn't find this as scary as I expected, being someone more inclined to liking gory horror movies, but the wax sculptures were so life-like that they creeped me out.

• hawk l

  
  Eerie set design, dark humor, and a great cast. Vincent Price as the quietly mad protagonist, in the role that seals his fate as a horror icon, is in excellent form both with and without the grotesque scar makeup he's encased in.

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