Another Rifftrax Review, but one I'd do normally anyhow. This gem is Terror at the Wax Museum, a 1973 Horror Film full of silliness. This is one of MANY Films in the Wax Museum Sub-Genre of Films. In the group, you have Mystery of the Wax Museum, House of Wax, this Film, Waxwork, House of Wax (2005) and a few notable others. You also get my favorite- the one where the guy is turning ladies literally into wax and is revealed to be a Robot at the end! Thanks, Italy! The Films are all a bit different, but usually relate to the idea that wax figures are somehow killing people. It's so silly that you can see why they've made them for over 80 Years! This time, the intrigue is based around the Museum as someone tries to buy it. When the murders start, who is to blame? The Film is notable for its Cast of 'Aww, you're in this?!?' Actors. They include John Carradine, Ray Milland, Louis Hayward and Broderick Crawford- among others. Is the fact that I watched this on Rifftrax a bad sign? Yes. To find out how and why, read on...
A weird, old man- Carradine- owns a Wax Museum and might sell it. He's confronted that night by his...animated Figures.
That's just an average Tuesday for him in the '70s though.
After he dies the next night, his Niece inherits the Museum and his mute/deaf worker. He must be evil- the Poster says so!
Some murders start to happen and all signs point to...Jack the Ripper. That or the Wax Figure of him.
Either way, this guy is going to solve the case...or get into the Niece's 'pants'- whichever comes first.
She too starts to experience weird things such as noises and figures appearing to move. What is going on here?!?
On top of that, another murder happens- this time with the 'Oh, it's you!' cliché used to full-effect.
Who is the guilty party? Is it Jack the Ripper (real one)? Is it the figure? Is it Ray Milland, who's character is written as a combination businessman/black-out drunk?
Nope- it was the Bartender. Yep, it's that anti-climactic. And no, I didn't forget to mention this important Character- he wasn't one. The End.
It really is that anti-climactic and random. A story like this should be easy to tell. You can add some flourish and style- sure- but the Film should be easy enough to follow. Instead, they keep building up that the Figures come to life...or one comes to life...or it is Jack the Ripper...or it is Milland. Hell, by the end, I'm surprised they didn't also try to pin it on the Aunt, the Detective or Carradine himself! The Film is fun to watch for the sheer silliness of it all. There's nothing super-special here other than the early Carradine freak-outs. Sadly, he's not in this much- not that he's ever in these kinds of Films much. He's like a shooting star- an old, fragile and insane shooting star. I kid, I kid- mostly. The rest of the Cast- mostly Milland and Crawford- handle things well in his absence. If you like this kind of silly stuff, check it out. You can watch it with or without Rifftrax- but I prefer the latter. Films like this have dry spots, which they help cover, and they are quite funny. Now they just need to do the original...
Next time, I will actually get around to a Film I planned to do back in, oh, June. It's Japan, so it's crazy and hopefully-fun. Stay tuned...
That's just an average Tuesday for him in the '70s though.
Either way, this guy is going to solve the case...or get into the Niece's 'pants'- whichever comes first.
TERROR IN THE WAX MUSEUM is one of many films that is sadly missing on DVD/Blu ray.
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