The 1953 version of 'House of Wax' is notable for two main reasons. First and foremost, it helped the brilliant Vincent Price enormously on his journey to becoming the greatest horror icon of all time. His performance in this film is like a blueprint for what he would go on to achieve, and some of his later roles; including, most notably, Dr Phibes and Edward Lionheart from Theatre of Blood, where Price effectively plays the same role as he does in House of Wax. The second thing that House of Wax is famous for is that it has pretty much become a blueprint in itself, for films in which someone is wronged and decides to take their revenge. Of course, the story itself has a number of influences; from the classic tale of 'The Phantom of the Opera', to the obvious, the film that it was remade from; Michael Curtiz's 'The Mystery of the Wax Museum'. The plot of the film follows an artist who owns a wax museum. His partner and main financier to the business, however, isn't happy with the way things are going and, as he wants to recoup the money he's invested in the museum to spend elsewhere, he decides to set the place on fire to claim the insurance. Caught in the flames, our artist manages to survive; albeit badly deformed, and bearing a huge grudge...
The reason why Vincent Price works so well within the horror genre is that he's always dark and malevolent enough to be frightening, yet he's always got enough of a sympathy vote for us to feel for his plight and thereby connect with his character. Price is at his best when he's walking a fine line between evil and pathos; and that's exactly what he does here. Andres De Toth clearly knew what he wanted to do with this film, as the slightly understated presence that the original had has been changed to a much more exuberant, Gothic feel; and it does the film no end of favours, especially where the atmosphere is concerned. Throughout, the film presents the audience with large structures and rooms with ornate furnishing, and it helps to create the macabre art feel that the film is aiming for. Wax figures have always had something sinister about them, and the director has capitalised on that to great effect. The scenes that see them melting are superb, and the way the lifeless dolls stare at the other pieces of scenery helps to give the film an extra level of horror to work from. On the whole; House of Wax may well be one of the most important horror films ever made. And even if it's not...it still offers a damn good time.
The reason why Vincent Price works so well within the horror genre is that he's always dark and malevolent enough to be frightening, yet he's always got enough of a sympathy vote for us to feel for his plight and thereby connect with his character. Price is at his best when he's walking a fine line between evil and pathos; and that's exactly what he does here. Andres De Toth clearly knew what he wanted to do with this film, as the slightly understated presence that the original had has been changed to a much more exuberant, Gothic feel; and it does the film no end of favours, especially where the atmosphere is concerned. Throughout, the film presents the audience with large structures and rooms with ornate furnishing, and it helps to create the macabre art feel that the film is aiming for. Wax figures have always had something sinister about them, and the director has capitalised on that to great effect. The scenes that see them melting are superb, and the way the lifeless dolls stare at the other pieces of scenery helps to give the film an extra level of horror to work from. On the whole; House of Wax may well be one of the most important horror films ever made. And even if it's not...it still offers a damn good time.