WAXWORK, the original CABIN IN THE WOODS. When it comes to 80’s horror there are films that come straight to the forefront including THE EVIL DEAD, CHILD’s PLAY, FRIDAY THE 13TH and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET to name a few. The greatest genre icons all stand tall on their own merit. One film that is often forgotten but should be as recognisable as these is WAXWORK, the amalgamation of all things horror and a unique way to blend a horror film within a horror film.

 

On a suburban street in America, a Waxwork museum opens and invites a number of teens for a unique midnight treat, a tour around the museum of wax albeit one without Vincent Price. As the teens are quickly indulged in the exhibitions gruesome characters, they learn that these are not just exhibits but scenes that play out when interacted with.

 

One by one the group are thrust into other worlds of horror from Werewolves and Egyptian Mummies to Marque de Sade and Dracula himself, the clever part of WAXWORK is in its self-referential play with horror tropes.

 

There are familiar faces in this horror classic including Zach Galligan (GREMLINS), David Warner (THE OMEN), Michelle Johnson (DEATH BECOMES HER) and Patrick Macnee (THE AVENGERS, THE HOWLING) so it’s a surprise that it isn’t regarded as one of the classics of the golden age of horror cinema. For it’s time, WAXWORK was, and still is, a ground-breaking introverted spectacle that despite its dated effects still holds strong today.

 

There’s much blood spilt on the screen and all of it played out in typical 80’s practical fashion, the charm that CGI dates too easily, and all with good tongue in cheek respect for the genre as a whole. Pre-release there was even hope that the waxwork displays would include Jason Voorhees, The Thing and even the children form the Village of the Damned but due to rights issues was never perused.

 

WAXWORK is a horror classic that needs to be on every horror fans shelf alongside the usual suspects. There’s blood (and lots of it), there’s a great cast and there are enough homages to genre favourites that this demands multiple viewings. Thankfully Lionsgates acquisition of Vestron means this and other hidden gems finally get the releases they deserve.