House of Wax (2005)

'you're saying that's a real person...underneath?'

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton and Brian Van Holt

Released: 6th May 2005 (U.S.)

Budget: $40M   Box Office: $70M

A remake of the 1953 House of Wax starring Vincent Price, this film isn't something you should compare to the old, as they both have different styles and this version is modernised. Also it would be unfair as Paris Hilton doesn't hold a candle (get it) to Vincent Price. Rather, this is the same identical story just retold in different styles. Perfection. From now on there will be no comparing of the two nor will there be sentences such as 'in this version...'. This is merely a strict look at House of Wax 2005 as an individual film. Let's dive in...

A group of teens are on their way to Louisiana to see a football game. They set up camp and find themselves being harassed by an anonymous individual in a van. After smashing one of the headlihts the mysterious driver disappears, however one of them discovers their fan belt is broken. A local gives two of them, Carly and Wade a trip to Ambrose.

Upon entering the town they incidentally interrupt a funeral, a mechanic named Bo (not body odour) agrees to help but after the funeral. During this time Carly and Wade decide to search the House of Wax museum, and find that this sleepy little ghost town...is a lot more sickening than it seems...
Paris Hilton doesn't do a bad job...considering the role is 'slasher bimbo' she acts the role well. This film was going to be called Wax House until Warner Bro's discovered the had permission to use the rights. 

There was a lawsuit shortly after the film was released regarding a fire that occurred on set and how proper health and safety was not followed. Where the fire broke out there now stands a field to be used for future productions.

Is House of Wax the best movie you will ever see? No. If you like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Run Red or any film with a crazed killer with weird friends and family killing teens in rural communities this is a film you need to see. 

The Dark (2005)

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'She has found a way to return from death... but something came back with her'.

Directed by John Fawcett

Starring Sean Bean, Mario Bello, Richard Elfyn, Abigail Stone

Released May 2005

Concept

Sarah lives with her father James, her mother Adelle comes to visit in order to bond with her. One day, they go walking by the cliffs. A strange memorial with a carving of the word 'Annwyn' stands there. They are then told that 'Annwyn' is a kind of afterlife in welsh mythology, according to a local named Dafydd. 

Sarah then goes missing, her mother and father distraught, launch a search believing she must have fallen off the cliff-face into the sea. She is presumed dead until one night, when Adelle notices a young girl outside of her window who she then follows. The girl looks a lot like Sarah.

The young girl is believed to be Ebrill, a young girl who died fifty years ago. The daughter of both a Shepard and pastor she died very young due to illness. She was then sent to Annwyn by her father, who gave her to the ocean.

 Saddened and overcome by her death, he believed he could bring her back. He convinced his neighbours to commit suicide by leaping off the cliff, in return for Ebrill. Daffyd was a young boy, and watched both his parents leap to their deaths. Ebrill returned, but brought back a dreadful evil...

Review

Wow talk about atmospheric, this movie has it. It truly lives up to its name 'the dark'. The film starts off with sunshine and laughter but as it goes on the film grows darker and more enclosed and claustrophobic, until daytime itself looks bleak. 

Based on the 1994 novel Sheep by Simon Maginn, the book is drastically different from the movie. So I would recommend checking the book out as well. The film was panned on Rotten Tomatoes but don't take anyone's word for it go check it out. I thought it was an enjoyable film not too far from Silent Hill or Poltergeist even considering it is based on an afterlife/ otherworldly phenomenon. 

This film went straight to DVD but in April 2007, which is an incredibly long time. This film is the first to ever mention the concept of Annwyn, from Christian-Celtic mythology. 

The story is not perfect, Sean Bean cannot catch a break in horror flicks because his daughters keep going missing because of their mothers, it flopped opening weekend but it is a great unknown film with amazing suspense check it out. Tell me what you think in the comments below. 

Hide And Seek (2005)

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'Charlie did it'. 

Directed by John Polson

Starring: Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning, Famke Janssen, Elizabeth Shue

Released January 28th 2005

Budget 25M         Box Office 122M