Review of House of Wax (1953) by Spencer S — 05 Nov 2013

So many things in film production changed after this film was made. Not only that but the way films are distributed, it gave Vincent Price a newfound purpose as a horror movie villain in his first leading role, and this was the first color, 3D film to have its own soundtrack.

A lot of the general appeal and lore that surrounds this film had to do with it being the first commercially viable picture to feature 3D, and make a giant deal about it. There are included scenes just for the use of the technology, including a talented man with a yo-yo outside the establishment as it opens, who is there without purpose, but entertains.

The premise is based on a melodramatic thirties' film with the same plot. Set in 19th century New York, the film follows a man named Jarrod (Price) who sculpts beautiful wax figures for a museum that isn't doing so well.

His friend and fellow investor wants to burn the museum and get a large insurance payout, which he does to Jarrod's horror. In that scene the fire engulfs the figures that Jarrod has longingly described with the sensationalism of a creator, and the sweetness of an artist.

He does not die from the fire, and later resurfaces to start another museum. At the same time there's a brutish deformed man running around the city stealing corpses, and terrorizing Sue Allen (Kirk) who witnessed him running from the scene of her roommate's murder.

There isn't as much murder, mayhem, and disfigurement as one would expect from a so-called horror film. More apt a description would be to say that this is a murder mystery with a very frightening villain.

It has all the appeal of later Vincent Price films, and it's easy to see why this film launched the rest of his career as a horror icon. It also has a very high production value, period sets and clothing, and actual and very well made wax figures.

Because it's so well-made there's definitely another layer of appreciation from the audience, and it makes the freakishness of seeing Charles Bronson as a mute henchmen, even more entertaining.