Waxwork (1988) / Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)

[dcj2112]

What does everyone think of the Waxwork movies?

I re-watched the first one for the first time in years and years. It had been so long since I'd seen it I wasn't even sure I had watched it before. But that steak tartare scene jump started my memory.

The whole first movie is a little more polished than I'd like it be. Prior to 1990 and even somewhat after I believe it was pretty rare for a big studio to throw $3 million behind an R Rated horror movie. Even things like the original Halloween and Friday the 13th movies were made with far less resources and from the stories of their making they sound almost like indie shoots with little studio support or interference.

But it's a fun movie filled with some 1980's goodness. It's rated 6.2 on IMDB which sounds about right to me.

The second though. Yikes! What a mess. I actually tried last week to watch it and gave up after 30 minutes because it just seemed like a bunch of non-sense.

But I NEVER give up on watching a movie. So yesterday with a clearer head I sat down and watched the whole thing through. And it was just as much non-sense.

Inexcusably enough the movie had the same director, Anthony Hickox and leading man, Zach Galligan. The leading woman, Deborah Foreman refused to take part because her and Galligan had a messy break-up in real life.

Even without Foreman though it should have been much better than what it was. The first movie pays homage to some classic horror movies and tales. This one does that a tiny bit, but more often it spoofs, at the time, recent movies with some pretty bland comedy. It knocks off things like Jason's hockey mask, the xenomorphs from Alien, and Godzilla just enough so they can claim parody.

The whole thing comes off as a proto-Friedberg and Seltzer movie which is exactly as bad as it sounds. It's a head scratcher as the movie still had enough studio support and budget to create something far better. This is evident in the production values, but also the best thing about the movie, the cameos.

Things like Bruce Campbell referencing Monty Python and David Carradine showing up for a few minutes as a beggar are fun, but not enough to make up for this overly long and directionless mess.

IMDB gives it a 5.5, but I'd rank it lower. Probably a 4 or less.

[Rev. Powell]

Like you, it's one (or maybe two) of those movies I think I've seen, but I'm not 100% sure. If I've seen it (them), it wasn't (they weren't) too memorable.

[FatFreddysCat]

I enjoyed the first Waxwork -- I actually attended a test screening of it when I was in high school. I've seen it a couple of times over the years.

The second one is a bit of a mess, but there are one or two decent bits (the Bruce Campbell cameo being the main one).

Also, the rap song over the closing credits of "Waxwork 2" absolutely has to be heard to be believed.

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[pennywise37]

i love these films and yes the first one is a better film but i enjoy the 2nd one too and if i recall David Carradine also is in it as well i forget how big or small of a part he has in it though

[TheBouncer]

I agree that shooting a film in digital certainly strips away its charm but sadly I can't imagine a return to the old ways of filming.

[chainsaw midget]

I'm going to disagree. 

I thought the movies were a lot of fun and had a lot of heart and energy behind them.  The people making them actually seemed to know what they were parodying and enjoyed it.  It's a far cry from the Friedberg and Seltzer movies. 

With that, there was indefinably style to it that could have only been made in the 80s. 

[pennywise37]

well said and the reason those films fail regardless who makes them is a lot that has to do with the stars are in on the joke and when you write it that way it hurts the film than you have the naked gun films where he plays it straight and it somehow works. 

as for the waxwork films these films are a lot of fun i hate that they shoot in digital now but i have no control over that though i recall reading that Tarintino hates Digital and he still shoots on film.  if memory is right he said he only wants to do 10 films and he's got i think 1 movie left before he claims he's gonna retire but i wonder which one that shall be?

anyways the wax work films are pretty creative i think sure some of the 2nd one worked and some of it didn't you are gonna have that i suppose at times with sequels. but if they hit bluray if they haven't already? i can't remember to be honest i fully plan on getting them both

[zombie no.one]

Also, the rap song over the closing credits of "Waxwork 2" absolutely has to be heard to be believed.

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not only do I also have no recollection  if I've watched these movies or not, but it seems I've already thumbed this video 'up' on youtube, but I honestly have no recollection of even seeing it before. and it was only uploaded about 18 months ago... lol

[pennywise37]

it's been a long time since i last saw either of the films to be honest so i don't remember them that well,  i also don't remember the song either

[claws]

I remember the first one being a bit of a big deal. It was featured many times in Fangoria before release, and it was a Vestron Video theatrical release. Vestron was already struggling financially even though they had a huge theatrical hit with Dirty Dancing one year prior, but all their money went into projects that flopped. They were hoping for another box office smash, but Waxwork didn't even make $1m at the box office. It did pretty well on video which is why they did a sequel.

I was a bit surprised to see Deborah Foreman in this. After seeing her in two big studio releases Real Genius and April Fool's Day I thought she would be more of an A-list type of actress. She ended up being in quite a few B-movies instead, and quit acting in the 1990s.

[chainsaw midget]

I also want to show off that wonderful 80s cover art. 

They just don't make them like this anymore. 




The sequel's cover didn't have nearly as much effort put into it, although there's still something curious about it. 

[pennywise37]

i remember when the 1st one came out it was like you said a big deal i can remember seeing the tv ads back in the day and i was dying and i remember when the 2nd one came out i don't remember as much cause the only memory  i recall is seeing that poster in a video store around here called The Movie House that's been closed sh*t for years i think i was in my late teens or maybe early 20's when it closed that's how long it's been. i loved going there anyways, 

they used to have posters where you walk in the door for their newest releases and they had a poster for the 2nd film when that 1st hit video.

it wasn't until years after they both came out that i finally got around to see both of them actually.

[Alex]

I have seen the first one (several times), but the second one isn't ringing any bells. Will have to keep an eye out for it and give it a watch.

[claws]

I've seen the second one but only remember the use of b&w footage in a couple of scenes. If memory serves it was some take on Night of the Living Dead? It's been ages. I probably should rewatch.

[pennywise37]

i'd say it's a decent picture not nearly as good as the Original of course but than nobody expects that do they? when i watch them i love to watch them back to back. if i recall Bruce Campbell is in the 2nd one if i recall. i could be wrong on that and i'm just to damn lazy to look it up lol