31 Days of Horror: House of Wax (1953)

"Here we have Joan of Arc - a favorite subject of mine."

Filmology Rating: 2.5 out of 4

Wax museums to some people are just creepy on principle, just like to some how clowns will always be scary.  How lifelike the figures are but knowing that they will forever remain silent is rather unnerving to me.  I have only gone to a wax museum once, and that was enough knowing that I will never go back again.  After taking a trip to House of Wax, it only affirms that  I will almost certainly never step foot in a wax museum again.      

Henry Jarrod, played by Vincent Price, is a talented sculpture who feels his only purpose in life is to create wax sculptures and show them off to the world.  His business partner Matthew Burke, played by Roy Roberts, however isn’t happy with the amount of money Jarrod’s wax museum is bringing in.  Burke believes that the sculptures should have more spectacle with them to bring in more crowds,  but Jarrod refuses.  Burke in an act of anger and greed sets fire to the wax museum with Jarrod still inside.  Months later a new wax museum opens with a morbid figure who looks exactly like Matthew Burke who has recently gone missing.  

The actual morbid plot of the film should leave viewers being sick to their stomachs, but I never once got an uneasy feeling.  The film plays almost every aspect straight, which ideally should allow the viewers to take in the horrors at face value, but for me personally I never found myself in horror because of this film.  I loved the sets in the film designed Lyle B Reifsnider and Donald P Desmond.  Most of the film works because of those sets which create most of the atmosphere for the film.  This film would easily be forgotten if not for the amazing set design that was on display.

Since House of Wax was the first 3D film that Warner Brothers made,  they used the 3D gimmick to their full advantage.  A scene with a paddle board player is rather distracting when watching the film in 2D, the film basically stops the plot and draws attention to the new technology that is going on.  In many regards films are still doing this when it comes to technology and film.  Some would argue that films like Avatar and Gravity are more style over substance.  Those claims are valid. Yet, I personally might disagree, but the plot in those films never stops to draw attention to the technology that is being shown.  Whenever I think of House of Wax I always think of the scene that is played after the intermission because of how out of place it feels from the rest of the film.  This scene is the most playful scene in a movie that is entirely based on dread.   

House of Wax is a tricky film for me to come up with a recommendation on.  It’s definitely horror homework and homework for anyone who wants to see the beginning of 3D films.  The film is worth watching without any of the historical context.  For those who want a film with great scares and blood and gore I would suggest not watching this film. You will be greatly disappointed, but for those who like a movie that builds mood and does have a sinister plot, then you will find some enjoyment in House of Wax.

Rating: Rent It     

-Jonny G