An associate burns down a wax museum with the owner Prof. Henry Jarrod (VIncent Price) inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous. Plus he is fascinated with a woman named Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk) whom reminds him of his loved one whom has passed away years ago.
During the beginning of the story we spot nice camera shots on wax figures that look real and deadly which leaves off a nice touch to a horror story and then there's the owner Prof. Henry Jarrod showing someone around with his collectibles but then this person suddenly wrecks havoc causing a fire to his wax figures as this looked terrorising and suspenseful to watch. Certainly is not a pretty site at all along with the struggles between the two of them which looked suspensefully energetic.
The story becomes a total bore after this incident as we have a figure looking scarred causing trouble like mursering someone and making out it's a suicide and although this character looked creepy there's nothing too special with these incidents.
Also there's two friends Sue Allen and Cathy Gray discussing a situation which in which Cathy herself got on my nerves big time with her high pitched giggling as she seemed like such a ditz big time.
However there's a nice scene with the scarred man stalking and chasing after Sue Allen as this added alot of nice suspense especially when she is trying to run away and hide in the night as this was a nice touch to the story as well as this figure rising up from a sheet while hiding away in a room of corpses to get away was another good touch but still I couldn't get into this.
While I wondered as to what happened to Henry since the beginning of the story we spot him in a wheelchair with waxed type of hands along with a mute and deaf Igor helping him and showing Sidney Wallace around his laboratory on his creations as well as the cauldron where he creates his wax figures as this leaves off a creepy feel to everything by how it was all set out.
The next day the town opens up with his wax figures for customers to be entertained which is of course horror types of figurines leaving a nice impression to whom is spotting all that is happening here.
The plot weakens again with pointless discussions that didn't do anything for me and had a hard time understanding just as to what is going on.
Quarter way through things pick up a bit when Sue is in the wax factory and it's dark and then Igor is sneaky by disguising himself as a wax figure but then puts her in danger since Henry has use for her and is trapped and bolted down ready to have wax from a cauldron ready to be dumped on her while some people try to save her before it's too late which is the best part of the story.
Bottom line is that although this film was a horror classic it didn't do anything for me at all since I've seen it all before. It was very slow and not having enough excitement for me at all. Many of you may disagree with me though but to each their own.
The acting is very dated but for some reason alot of this seemed a bit stiff even for a flick of it's time as there's only certain ones that stand out mentioning but Vincent Price (Prof. Henry Jarrod) brought out a different type of presence to his role as he shows off a good kind hearted attitude during the beginning of his performance and does it with nice style. Also shows off a bitter attitude later on along with acting crazy like he often does in a horror flick. Portrayed a nice madman in this one.
Frank Lovejoy (Det. Lt. Tom Brennan) seemed to do well as a detective with his looks and appeal as well as showing off a good serious attitude to what he is talking about and seemed to get into his role in a nice fashion as he really was memorable in his performance.
Phyllis Kirk (Sue Allen) portrayed the innocent character being victimised like most people in a horror flick. She seemed a bit wooden in her performance at times but she can pull it off in other spots. However her screaming is a bit off. Yet when she gets fearful it isn't too shabby.
Carolyn Jones (Cathy Gray) knew on how to play a somewhat an airhead with her giggly attitude as well as to what she is talking about. Knew on how to act annoying within all of this. Does the job well with what she had to do but I wasn't a fan of this character but still can do the trick here regardless.
Paul Picerni (Scott Andrews) played the hearthrob type of guy as he was just okay. He wasn't anything special but not bad by any means. I have seen better but seemed to come off well onto the camera with his performance regardless.
Charles Bronson (Igor) had the most effective supporting role as a hulkish mute deaf one showing off good horror characteristics with his creepy attitude by what he does and knew on how to act powerful whenever he needed to be this way.
Alot of good old fashioned orchestral composing all put together by David Buttolph with quiverring sounds and of course violin music. Plus we hear some effective flute composing too which really strikes out well for some of the suspense into the story. Does a nice job playing his music for the opening credits as well which is a nice plus.
Prof. Henry Jarrod: Everything I ever loved has been taken away from me, but not you, my Marie Antoinette, for I will give you eternal life.
Prof. Henry Jarrod: [heavy with menace after Sue unwigs Cathy] You shouldn't have done that, my dear!
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