Film Review: House of Wax (2005)
It would be easy to dismiss this in-name-only remake of the already a remake 1953 William Castle original but this film strives to go beyond the normal trappings of a gore filled slasher film and unlike the Castle film strive beyond being more than a gimmick
The set up for the film is nothing new. A group of friends (including Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray as twin siblings Carly and Nick, respectfully) head out to a sporting event but get detoured on the way to a strange town known for its wax museum. Simply set up for a mass murder of the normal variety, which is exactly what this film would be except under the direction of feature film director Jaume Collet-Serra and cinematographer Stephen F. Windon the film goes further by becoming not only a surprisingly suspenseful film but an entertaining one as well.
What holds the film thematically together is its insistence on comparing and contrasting the relationship between twins Carly and Nick and that of Bo and Vincent (both played by Brian Van Holt). Whereas Carly and Nick start the film off as bitter enemies, Bo and Vincent feed off each other and help each other. It is only through this current situation that the tide turns as Carly must learn to trust her brother to help her survive and Vincent learns that his brother Bo is only using him for his own agenda. The film tries to explore both the good and bad elements of the duality of twins both physically, psychologically, and mentally. Like many of the best slasher films there is more than meets the eye. You just have to look deeper to find it.
An independent filmmaker who writes screenplays and articles mostly in the entertainment fields.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Film Review: House of Wax (2005)