House of Wax is a 2005 slasher film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, starring Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, and Paris Hilton. It is a remake of the 1953 film of the same name, itself a remake of the 1933 film Mystery of the Wax Museum. The screenplay, written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes, follows a group of teenagers who become stranded in a seemingly abandoned town containing an elaborate wax museum.
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released in United States theaters on May 6, 2005, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, who cited its lack of originality and screenplay issues, the film grossed $70.1 million worldwide.
The Setup
The story begins in 1974, depicting a disturbing scene where a woman sculpts a wax figure while one of her sons is restrained due to his violent behavior. This sets a dark tone for the events to come.
In 2005, a group of six friends embark on a road trip to a college football game. The group includes:
- Carly Jones (Elisha Cuthbert): An ambitious young woman planning to move to New York.
- Nick Jones (Chad Michael Murray): Carly's delinquent twin brother.
- Wade Felton (Jared Padalecki): Carly's boyfriend, hesitant about moving to the city.
- Paige Edwards (Paris Hilton): Carly's friend, possibly pregnant.
- Blake Johnson (Robert Ri'chard): Paige's boyfriend.
- Dalton Chapman (Jon Abrahams): Nick's immature friend.
During their trip, they decide to camp overnight. Their campsite is disturbed by a mysterious stranger in a truck, leading to a confrontation where Nick breaks one of the truck's headlights.
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The Detour to Ambrose
The next morning, Wade discovers his fan belt is broken. Carly and Wade encounter a disheveled man who offers a ride to the nearby town of Ambrose to get a new fan belt. However, they decide to go on their own, finding Ambrose to be a near ghost town.
They visit the town's wax museum, which is entirely made of wax. The eerie wax figures and a creepy man outside the museum unnerve them. They then meet Bo, a mechanic, who offers to sell them a fan belt after a local funeral service.
While waiting, Carly and Wade learn about the Sinclair family, the former owners of the wax museum. The story involves Dr. Victor Sinclair, who was fired for experimental procedures, and his wife Trudy, who became a wax sculptor before her death. Victor supposedly committed suicide, leaving their children as orphans.
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The Horror Unfolds
Carly notices the broken headlight on Bo's truck, realizing he was the stranger at their campsite. She tries to warn Wade, but he is attacked and crippled by Bo's twin brother, Vincent. Bo captures Carly, imprisoning her in the gas station cellar after gluing her lips together and cutting off part of her finger.
Nick and Dalton arrive in Ambrose to search for their friends. Carly manages to alert Nick, who rescues her. They discover the town's population is composed of wax-preserved corpses. Meanwhile, Dalton finds Wade covered in wax and attempts to free him, only to realize he is peeling off Wade's skin. Vincent kills Wade and later decapitates Dalton.
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Vincent then attacks Paige and Blake at the campsite, killing them. Back in Ambrose, Carly and Nick overhear Bo and Vincent, revealing their identities as the Sinclair children. Vincent, manipulated by Bo, has been creating realistic wax figures from their victims.
The group is chased to the House of Wax, where Nick starts a fire. In the ensuing chaos, Carly kills Bo with a baseball bat. Vincent, enraged, is then stabbed by Carly and pushed by Nick through the wax floor, landing on his brother's corpse.
The following table shows the main characters and their fates:
| Character | Actor | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Carly Jones | Elisha Cuthbert | Survives |
| Nick Jones | Chad Michael Murray | Survives |
| Wade Felton | Jared Padalecki | Killed by Vincent, encased in wax |
| Paige Edwards | Paris Hilton | Killed by Vincent |
| Blake Johnson | Robert Ri'chard | Killed by Vincent |
| Dalton Chapman | Jon Abrahams | Killed by Vincent, decapitated |
| Bo Sinclair | Brian Van Holt | Killed by Carly with a baseball bat |
| Vincent Sinclair | Brian Van Holt | Killed by Carly and Nick |
The Aftermath
Local authorities arrive to find Ambrose abandoned for a decade. As Carly and Nick are taken away, the Sheriff learns of a third Sinclair child, leaving a lingering sense of unease.
Despite mixed reviews, House of Wax remains a notable horror film known for its intense violence and unique premise. The film's production design and practical effects contribute to its disturbing atmosphere, making it a memorable entry in the slasher genre.
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