Waxwork / Waxwork II: Lost in Time
Waxwork
Official Synopsis:
“Inside the wax museum a group of teenagers are aghast at the hauntingly lifelike wax displays of Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and other character members of the Horror Hall of Fame. Each display is perfectly grotesque, yet each is missing one thing…a victim! Admission to the WAXWORK was free, but now they may pay with their lives! One by one, the students are drawn into the setting as objects of the bloodthirsty creatures. They are now part of the permanent collection.”
Released just in time for Halloween, this double feature of Waxwork and Waxwork II: Lost in Time should top your list of must-see horror films of the season. As far as 80’s horror goes, this one is fantastically over the top, making it a fun-filled gore fest from start to finish.
The tone of the film is evident in the first scene as our main character, Mark (Zach Galligan), is refused coffee by his mother for being too young, then heads off to college. A bit odd, granted, but it is just the beginning in a series of strange scenes that make you audibly say “What?!” and question whether or not this is real. Fortunately for us it is, and it only gets better from here.
Also on their way to class are Mark’s friends Sarah (Deborah Foreman) and China (Michelle Johnson). As China brags about her latest sexual escapades, the two are stopped by something that seems a bit out of place: A Wax Museum in the middle of a neighborhood. Invited by the ominous owner (David Warner) to come back at midnight for a private showing, Sarah and China convince their friends to visit the Waxwork.
The second act follows each teen as they inadvertently get trapped inside a different Wax display, passing through some kind of magical portal that makes them part of the story unfolding. As each one meets an untimely and very gruesome end, their bodies are now part of the display. This is a pretty unique approach, as we get some very diverse and intriguing short sequences from a variety of classic monsters and deadly creatures. Ultimately, we learn that each display demands a sacrifice of a soul, and as soon as each one is complete, each display will come to life and wreak havoc on the Earth.
The third act is where everything gets insane. Over the top is an understatement, as we are witness to some of the most gruesome and horrific things. For a film with such levity about it, they pair it up nicely with graphic horror that is so over the top it is almost comical.
Waxwork was such a blast to watch. It had a great formula and was more interested in having fun with the genre than taking itself too seriously. The make-up and special effects can be hokey at times, but then there are moments when they simply stun you.
Video
Waxwork is presented in 1080p High Definition 1.85:1. The print is relatively clear of any defects and has been cleaned up nicely. There are some moments of noticeable grain, and the beginning of the film suffers from a jittering of the video that is very noticeable. Whether this is due to the restoration or was a pre-existing condition, it thankfully clears up after about 15 minutes or so.
Audio
The audio is presenting in the original 2.0 Stereo. There are no noticeable problems with the audio, and for a stereo track it sounds fine. The score is one of the best things about this film, as it evokes a sort of magical feel to it.
Special Features
On this set you’re going to get:
Audio Commentary with Anthony Hickox & Zach Galligan
Theatrical Trailer
Still Gallery
Featurettes: “The Waxwork Chronicles” (Parts 1-6), Vintage “Making of” Featurettes
The Waxwork Chronicles are definitely worth watching, as most of the cast and crew return to talk about their memories of the film.
Waxwork II: Lost in Time
Official Synopsis:
“Having escaped the fiery destruction of the original Waxwork, Mark (Zach Galligan) and Sarah (Monika Schnarre) face another grueling ordeal in WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME, when Sarah is accused of murdering her stepfather. Fleeing through the doors of time in a desperate search for proof of her innocence, the two lovers find themselves in the eternally recurring battle between good and evil. Together they must stop one of the most powerful and demonic figures of all time – Lord Scarabus.”
As much as I loved the first one, Waxwork II: Lost in Time falls flat, mostly because of the incoherent story where absolutely nothing makes sense. Taking place immediately after the first film, it starts out promising as one of the creatures from the Waxwork has escaped and kills Sarah’s stepfather. As she sits on trial for the murder, claiming it was a wax being that came to life, Mark decides the best way to clear her name is to find an old artifact of his grandfather’s and travel through time, because as he puts it “If we can show how to re-animate flesh, the prosecution’s case will be out the window”.
The problem is, they aren’t traveling through time. It’s more like they are traveling into movies of the past. As much as the short sequences worked in the first film, they are just more confusing and make no sense here. Regardless, there are some fantastic cameos, and the sequence with Bruce Campbell is absolutely hilarious, so much so that it may be worth sitting through the film just for that.
We find out later, as one of Mark’s dead allies flies in his cell in the form of a Raven, that he has, and I quote: “Stumbled into God’s Nintendo Game”. Although he is called a ‘Time Warrior’ and keeps eluding to the fact they are traveling in time, THEY AREN’T. Although there are some really cool sequences in here, there are really bad ones too, including one that is supposed to be Alien, with Sarah playing Ripley, with a horrendous looking creature with terrible effects, this sequence is very out of place in the film and definitely brings the entire film down a few pegs.
The final act does start to get better, as Mark has a sword fight with Lord Scarabus that takes place through several different ‘sequences’ that take the form of different films. It’s a wild ride, but for the most part disappoints. After all, although the title is Waxwork, there is nothing pertaining to wax figures whatsoever.
Video
The video is presented in 1080p High Definition 1.85:1. The transfer looks pretty good overall, with a few issues noticed. Color levels are good for the most part, however, in many scenes they seem to be a bit washed out, and everything looks rather muted. Things look fairly clear in terms of picture, with only a few minor scratches noticed throughout the film.
Audio
The audio is presented in the original 2.0 stereo, and just as the first, it sounds fine. The soundtrack isn’t as impressive as the first, but levels sound fine for a stereo track.
Special Features
There aren’t many special features for this one, but here you’re going to see:
Audio Commentary with Anthony Hickox & Zach Galligan
Theatrical Trailer
Still Gallery
Waxwork and Waxwork II: Lost in Time are two very different movies, but this set is sure to entertain. Not your typical genre film, the combination of levity and gore complement each other well. Although inferior to the first, they are still both a blast to watch and worth picking up this set to watch this Halloween.
