Review of Toolbox Murders (2004) by Green P — 01 Jan 2008

Any story about the comings and goings of weird people in a strange hotel or apartment block - and there are a number - gets my interest. The Toolbox Murders is no exception, and thrown in is a bizarre seam of gore and occult suggestion.

The story begins with a young couple moving in to a small flat in a run-down apartment block, managed by a scruffy wide-boy and his strange, silent handyman who just never seems to get around to doing any of the necessary repairs.

As the various odd characters begin to succumb to grisly and bizarre deaths, the newcomers - ignored by the police after a false alarm, and unable to break their lease and leave - try to discover what's going on. A trail involving the hotel's strange history, teeth found in the wall (see also 1976's "The Tenant" for very similar occult-symbolic dental welcomes for new tenants) a pattern of non-existing apartment numbers, and esoteric symbols on each floor posing as artwork, lead them towards something much worse than 'just' a serial killer.

Possibly filmed in a style recreating the "feel" of it's 1970s predecessor, having not seen the original at first I thought this actually *was* the original. It certainly doesn't have the polished look of a '00s film. But all in all it's an offbeat-enough horror with interesting premise and some pretty creepy scenes. Definitely a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.