House of Wax (2005)

If only the whole film showed the energy and gruesome invention of its stalk-n-slash scenes, we'd be talking about some kind of deranged slasher masterwork. Alas, the character scenes are as stiff and artificial as the death scenes are lurid. There may be a problem within a film when the most impressive star turn is the one by Paris Hilton. (Speaking of Paris, her willingness to send up -- nay, savage -- her own image by showing up here speaks to a level of if not intelligence then at least self-awareness that I had figured would be beyond her grasp.) The production design is impressive enough to merit a mention, but in crafting an entire town from wax, the filmmakers seem to have gone too far and crafted an entire film from the same stuff.

Grade: D+