House of Wax

House of Wax
****/5
by André De Toth, starring Vincent Price

I recently rewatched this film and was pleased to find it was as great as I remembered. This is the film that made Vincent Price the face (and voice!) of horror in the 50s and 60s. Full of excellent scares, creepy sets, and imagery that is still shocking by today's standards, this film sticks with you. For a couple years I was trying to remember what film it was that had a particularly terrifying murder in it, and watching House of Wax again, I realized this was it!

The only parts of this movie that fall short are the interludes intended to showcase the film's original 3-D. On DVD, you wonder why there are so many Can-Can dancers and obnoxious guys with paddleballs. Other than these pitfalls, though, the movie is generally well paced, concise, and totally scary. Highly recommended.

Recommendations
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (one of Vincent Price's last great horror roles)