![]() However, when a mysterious, disfigured stranger shows up, the resolution may not be so simple. Jarrod supposedly dies in the fire, leaving Burke to collect. When Jarrod refuses, Burke torches the museum anyway, and the two fight. He suggests torching the place and collecting the insurance money. Jarrod tries to interest a new investor, but when the prospect says he can't make a decision for a few months, Burke says he can't wait. When his partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Robert)-really his primary investor-balks at Jarrod's receipts and tries to talk him into moving in a more commercial direction, perhaps with a "Chamber of Horrors", Jarrod protests that he's creating meticulous works of art, not cheap sensationalism. He's living in New York City in the late 19th Century, and he's displaying his handiwork in a wax museum. "Professor" Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is a sculptor who works in wax. In conclusion, a very good film and a great 3D experience. Looking at him also, you'd never guess that it was his first horror role, he looks as though he'd done it for years beforehand. Best of all is Vincent Price in his first array into horror and for me still one of his best roles, his make-up is exceptional and he is very malevolent and sympathetic, a type of role that always saw him at his best. Frank Lovejoy is great at just playing it straight, Reggie Rymal provides another of the 3D's finest moments with the paddle-ball and Charles Bronson is wonderfully creepy even without uttering a word. The performances are very good on the whole, Carolyn Jones went on to do better things but is interesting to see. The pace is brisk and the direction handles the atmosphere very well. ![]() There are some very effective scenes, such as the sight of the figure in the cloak, Jarrod chasing Sue down the alleyways(pure suspense and horror), the murders especially that of Jarrod's partner, the heart-breaking scene where Jarrod tries in vain to save his wax works and Sue strapped nude on the table in the climax. The music is haunting and robust, the writing is sharp and the story is suspenseful and mostly exciting. House of Wax is fine in 2D, but even better in 3D in my view, and I thought I'd never say that. Igor appearing to have leapt out of the audience was a standout. In the case of House of Wax however, not only does the 3D look good, but it enhances the scares without making them gimmicky. On the subject of visuals, I had the pleasure of watching House of Wax in 3D, I am not a fan of 3D and find it distracts from the film and doesn't focus on the story enough. Conversely, the Gothic sets look gorgeous and add a real sensual beauty to a lot of scenes. The story occasionally loses bite and Phyllis Kirk is a rather bland female lead(though in all fairness her character is as well). ![]() I did prefer the Corman-Price-Poe collaborations Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher and especially The Masque of the Red Death. For me, House of Wax is a very good movie, but I am not sure if it is Price's best horror film.
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