Waxwork – Film Review

Waxwork is a 1988 horror-comedy directed by Anthony Hickox and written by himself and Danilo Bach. It stars Zach Galligan and Deborah Foreman in the lead roles, and also features a host of other talented actors. The film’s unique premise revolves around a mysterious wax museum that doubles up as a gateway to an alternate dimension where various horrors and monsters from literature and cinema come to life.

The film opens with a group of teenagers, Sarah (Deborah Foreman), Mark (Zach Galligan), China (Michelle Johnson), and Tony (Dana Ashbrook), being invited to visit a new wax museum in town. The group arrives at the museum, run by the eccentric and enigmatic David Lincoln (David Warner). David is mysterious and peculiar, but the teenagers are immediately taken by the museum’s strange and wondrous exhibits. However, as they explore the museum, they begin to realize that the exhibits are far from being static displays. Instead, they are portals to a different dimension, one that draws them in and forces them to live through some of the most horrific tales of terror from the pages of horror fiction.

As the teenagers step into the exhibits, they are pulled into the macabre worlds of Dracula, the Marquis de Sade, Frankenstein’s monster, and many others. In each exhibit, the teenagers face an unimaginable threat that they must overcome if they hope to escape and return to the real world. Each horror tale that they live through becomes increasingly intense and challenging, and the group begins to suspect that there is more at stake than just their lives.

The film’s greatest strength lies in its clever and creative premise. Waxwork plays like a horror version of the 1985 film Clue, with each horror exhibit being a self-contained narrative that requires the audience to put together the pieces of the puzzle and uncover the true story. The film plays with classic horror tropes, twisting them around and giving them new life, from the Victorian-era gothic horror of Dracula to the swashbuckling swordfights of the werewolf exhibit. The film is full of surprising and innovative ideas, which keep the audience on the edge of their seat throughout.

One of the standout performances in the film comes from David Warner, who plays the enigmatic wax museum proprietor. Warner delivers a pitch-perfect performance, bringing a level of charisma and energy to the role that is essential for such an unusual character. His scenes with the teenagers are some of the most memorable in the film, and his scenes within the horror exhibits themselves are some of the most thrilling. Deborah Foreman also stands out as the film’s female lead, Sarah. She brings a sense of intelligence and resourcefulness to the character, and the audience is genuinely invested in her journey.

Despite all of its strengths, Waxwork is not without its flaws. The film’s pacing can be somewhat erratic, with some scenes dragging on too long, and others feeling rushed. The film’s final act, in particular, feels rushed and is somewhat anticlimactic, which may leave the audience feeling a bit let down. Additionally, some of the special effects in the film have not aged particularly well, which can take the audience out of the experience. The werewolf transformation scene, in particular, feels clunky and artificial, and while this may have been acceptable in 1988, it does not hold up well against contemporary horror films.

Waxwork is a creative and entertaining horror-comedy that should appeal to fans of classic horror. The film’s inventive premise and unique structure make for an engaging and entertaining watch, while its strong performances from its cast help to keep the audience invested in the characters. Despite some flaws in pacing and special effects, the film remains an enjoyable and thrilling ride. If you are a fan of horror, then Waxwork is definitely worth checking out.