Customer Reviews

Waxwork / Waxwork II - Lost in Time

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Artisan does it again by releasing this great double feature DVD. If the original Waxowrk wasn't good enough, you also get its awsome sequel. For those of you who haven't see Waxwork, don't be fooled into thinking this is going to be a totally serious scary as hell movie. I is actually very toungue in cheek and has many funny moments. In the wake of Re-Animator, there were many immitations on mixing humor and gore, and Waxwork is one of the better films to come out of the mix. The sequel is almost just as good as the original and portrays many cameos that you will recognize (Bruce Campbell and Drew Barrymore to name a few). Two very entertaining film a cheap price. Now te downside. Originally when Waxwork was released on VHS, it was released in two seperate verions: an R-Rated and an Unrated. Sadly, the R-Rated version is the one present on the DVD which makes me worried that the Unrated will never be released. Another complaint is the picture quality. Artisan needs to start remastering these things. All their double feature DVD's are grainy. But that aside, don't let those downsides stop you from purchasing this DVD, its well worth it.

Waxwork and Waxwork 2 are very inovating horror films. Now we can enjoy both movies on one disk!!! Great "POPCORN" movies from the "AWESOME 80's!!! I just purchased this dvd and Waxwork pt 1, is the UNRATED version... so your seeing all the blood and gore, especially in the Wereolf and the Vampire slayer scenes. Waxwork--UNRATED and Waxwork 2---RATED R. Hope this helped anyone. "Steak Tar Tar anyone?" ENJOY!!!!

The 1988 film "Waxwork" will always hold a special place in this horror fan's heart. On the surface, this movie doesn't seem that original or engaging. A group of young adults, led by Mark Loftmore (Zach Galligan) and Sarah Brightman (Deborah Foreman), decide to head over to a recently opened wax museum in their town for a night of giggles and guffaws. How could anything about a display of wax dummies be particularly frightening? We soon discover something quite ominous is going on behind the doors of this creepy building. The curator of the museum, David Lincoln (David Warner), and his two Addam's Family like cronies seek to open a portal to Hell through which the worst monsters of history will rise again to wreak havoc on the living. In order to accomplish this nefarious plot, Lincoln must procure several living people to sacrifice to the dark gods. The waxwork displays, which reconstruct carefully orchestrated scenes of horrific murder and mayhem in history, are in fact tricks designed to lure these unwary kids to their doom. Once one of these dupes step past the velvet rope in front of a scene, they discover that what they were looking at is real and very dangerous. And one by one, Lincoln secures his sacrifices.

One of the adults finds himself caught in the middle of a gruesome werewolf hunt. A snobby rich girl falls for the penetrating gaze of Count Dracula (Miles O'Keefe of "Ator" fame, for goodness sake!), thus discovering that vampires do exist and don't mind gnawing on human drumsticks whenever possible. By the time Loftmore discovers what is going on in the wax museum, most of his friends have perished in graphic, horrible ways. It's only through luck that he manages to extricate Brightman from a particularly sadistic encounter with the Marquis De Sade. The two turn to Loftmore's wheelchair bound uncle, Sir Wilfred (Patrick Macnee), to uncover the particulars of Lincoln's scurrilous goals. According to the knowledgeable Wilfred, David Lincoln has been alive for a hundred years plotting to unleash doom on planet earth. Now that Loftmore's uncle knows exactly where Lincoln is and what he's going to do, he hopes to upset the malevolent curator's museum with the help of a few friends. But Wilfred, Brightman, and Loftmore will have to hurry because Lincoln will soon open the portal. The conclusion to the film is notable because it's probably the only time you'll see the Marquis De Sade and Count Dracula battling a bunch of crusty old British chaps led by a guy in a wheelchair.

"Waxwork II" goes for high camp, quite possibly on purpose. Galligan returns as Mark Loftmore, but this time there's a bunch of bunkum about a portal through time and space. At the end of the first film, Mark and Sarah destroyed the wax museum, but something survived long enough to follow Brightman home and murder her stepfather. Now the young girl is on trial for her life, and Loftmore must work behind the scenes to save her. Thanks to a tape left behind by Sir Wilfred, Mark finds a device that allows him to travel through time to prove that Sarah is innocent. Or something like that. Whatever happens, "Waxwork II" quickly descends into a series of occasionally humorous but more often groan inducing vignettes based on a plethora of classic horror movies. We see the cast here struggling through scenes lifted from "Alien," "Dawn of the Dead," "Jack the Ripper," and probably a dozen other cult classics. There's also a continuing plot set in the Middle Ages where Mark must defeat a bunch of baddies to protect a king. Both films are worth a watch, but the original far outpaces the sequel. These films are worth watching because of the cast and the special appearances of what looks like dozens of memorable faces.

Zach Galligan largely exhausted any goodwill he had from "Gremlins" by appearing in these types of low budget films, but that doesn't mean he isn't fun to watch. Deborah Foreman needs no props from me; any fan of films made in the 1980s recognizes this gorgeous gal on sight (someone named Monika Schnarre unfortunately replaced Foreman as Sarah in the sequel). Patrick Macnee gets a chance to pile on the ham as Sir Wilfred, and David Warner is as creepy as ever as the nefarious David Lincoln. What really grabs your attention, in the first but particularly the second film, is the number of names appearing in big and small roles. Look for Jonathan Rhys-Davies, John Ireland, Drew Barrymore, Bruce Campbell (in a hilarious turn), Marina Sirtis, Martin Kemp, Michael Des Barres, David Carradine, Alexander Godunov, Maxwell Caulfield, and about a billion other famous faces. Aside from the huge cast lists, prepare yourself for a gore drenching experience in the first film. While "Waxwork" doesn't approach the level of "Dead Alive," it does turn the stomach on numerous occasions. The vampire scenes alone should bring forth a few groans of disgust from viewers.

Artisan Entertainment (since purchased by Lion's Gate) saw fit to put both films on a single disc. It's nice to have them on DVD but regrettable the disc contains nothing more than a trailer or two. I consider "Waxwork" a cult classic worthy of a commentary track at the very least, but I am glad to see the movie reach DVD despite this omission. Also, rest assured that you are watching the unrated version of "Waxwork" on the Artisan disc--the R rated version runs ninety-five minutes while this one runs ninety-seven. If you haven't indulged in the campy, loopy fun that is the "Waxwork" franchise, you need to add this one to your must have list as soon as possible.

This has it all. Make some time for Halloween Night, a bowl of popcorn, lights out, and enjoy this gory/bloody/funny treat. Every classic ghoul you were born to love is back. Goofier and more violent then ever. Enjoy! Sends shivers of joy down your spine. This out of control film will put a smile on every horrorfanatics face. If it dosen't, then you still have the spine chill effect. Happy Halloween 2003!! Waxwork baby!!!

I love horror from the 80's; it's practically its own subgenre. 80's horror was fun, gory, cheesy, over the top and just plain great. Waxwork embodies all of this. This might just be my favorite movie to come out of the eighties, because even though it borrows from classic horror (Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, Invisible Man, etc.), it is still a wildly original movie. Every display in the Waxwork contains a creature or maniac, and every display needs a soul to accompany it. Once all the displays are filled with the requisite soul, all the said creatures and maniacs come back to life. Now the movie definitely has a massive cheese factor in the acting and the seemingly make-it-up-as-I-go-along plot, but that's just part of its fun. The set design, costume design and practical FX work are just amazing, and there's plenty of blood and great kills to satisfy most gorehounds. If you are a fan of 80's horror, this is simply a must have for your collection.

And as a bonus you get the sequel on the same disc. And I have to say the sequel is also pretty great. Not as good as the original, but still awesome. This one has the survivors of #1 supposedly traveling through time, but really they're just traveling through classic movies. You'll notice Aliens, The Haunting, Frankenstein, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dawn of the Dead and more. But this movie does not rip them off, it's a complete homage. This movie is more about humor and silliness than the original, but it works, but also there's still plenty of gore. Once again the set designs and costumes are top notch, while the effects work is a mixed bag. There is some excellent practical FX work together with some horrendous old CGI. Notable supporting cast includes the late, great Buck Flowers, Bruce Campbell, David Carradine and that guy from Die Hard, sorry, I don't remember your name. Definitely a worthwhile sequel, and just icing on the cake for this DVD release.

I remember seeing this movie when i was a kid back in the 80s and was looking for it but couldnt remember the name and alas i found it and was surprised there was a part 2 as well. Well the first one is amazing, the whole vampire scene is so romantic at the end and so intense when the battle begins but i always remember that scene, at the end on the bottom of the stairs, its romantic too me lol. As you can tell thats my favorite scene and i can just watch it over and over. The mummy one is quite nice as well. Its so good and it gives me the willies whenever i go to a wax museum because im like what if. All the places they go to are so cool except for the last 2 characters that only enter the set ups for like a minute. But the first one is classic and just great fun, heck it was the 80s and waaxwork 2 is great as well altho i was upset the same actress didnt show up. But again its really really good except for the music thingy at the end. But its so worth to get it if even for waxwork the original, promise youll have a good time, scouts honor.

Quick true story about the original "Waxwork" before I dive into the meat of my review: I went to a test screening of this film when I was in high school, circa late 1987/early 1988. I thought the film kicked all kinds of butt, and I remember filling out the little comment card at the end of the show ("What did you like about the movie? What didn't you like?") raving about the makeup and gore effects, and I probably told them that the blonde who played "China" was "freakin' hot" or words to that effect. (I have always wondered if that comment got back to her. "Hey babe, some geek in Jersey thought you were hot.") I don't recall if "Waxwork" ever got a legitimate theatrical release after that test screening, but when I rented it on VHS some time later, I was dismayed to find out that much of the kick ass blood and gore shots that I'd grooved on at the free preview had been edited. I am, however, happy to report that the version of "Waxwork" on the double feature DVD released by Artisan Entertainment appears to be that original, uncut version that I saw many years ago. (Though both films are in fullscreen, not widescreen...SIGH! I guess you can't have everything...) End of commercial.

Okay then!! "Waxwork" is a mostly forgotten lil' gem of '80s horror comedy. The plot is pretty simplistic: in a nutshell, Zach Galligan of "Gremlins" fame and a bunch of his fellow spoiled, rich California friends get invited to a "preview showing" at a soon-to-be opened wax museum in their town, only to find when they arrive that they're destined to become part of the various sculptures. The "waxworks" of such famed evil doers as the Marquis De Sade, Jack the Ripper, Dracula, etc., etc. are actually portals to other dimensions, where the young cannon fodder becomes trapped as part of some sorta convoluted voodoo worshipping plot to unleash Evil on Earth and bring around the End of All Things, or something like that. So the story's ridiculous, but the various set pieces and segments featuring the "Waxwork" characters are like a sampler platter of some of horror's greatest moments, particularly the Werewolf segment and the scene set in a den of vampires (where blood literally paints the walls!!!). All Galligan cares about is rescuing his virginal, never-had-it-but-really-wants-to love interest from the grip of the Marquis De Sade, and by the time his godfather (Patrick MacNee of "The Avengers" no less!) and his merry band of British supernatural fighters arrive to save the day, you're either gonna be laughing your head off or you're going to be saying "I hate this movie." I personally would've preferred it to lean harder on the "horror" end and less on the "comedy" but when "Waxwork" gets nasty (as in the aforementioned Werewolf and Vampire scenes), it provides a decent amount of shocks and some killer old-school creature and gore FX. First time writer/director Anthony Hickox has become a genre veteran, having gone from "Waxwork" to films like the underrated "Full Eclipse," "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth," and "Warlock: The Armageddon" to name just a few. Perhaps "Waxwork" is still a little rough around the edges but it shows that even at this early stage in his directing career, Hickox already had an eye for cool set pieces, interesting staging, and of course plenty of bloody action.

"Waxwork" is an entertaining little time capsule that should bring a smile to the face of any '80s horror fan. They really don't make'em like this anymore.

I found Anthony Hickox's 1992 sequel to be a bit of a let down. Zach Galligan returns (though the girl who played his love interest from the first movie has been recast) as the unlikely college aged hero "Mark," who saved his girlfriend "Sarah" from the evil Waxworks at the end of the first movie. Unfortunately one of the exhibits from said Waxwork - a severed zombie hand with a life of its own - follows Sarah home and kills her stepfather with a hammer, so she ends up on trial for his murder. The only way to clear Sarah's name is for her and Mark to use the "portals" again to travel through dimensions and hopefully bring back some evidence that will clear her name.

So far, so good, and "Waxwork II: Lost In Time" starts off well enough, with the characters tripping through a series of quick set pieces inspired by classic horror movies; there's some hilarious bits inspired by "Frankenstein" and "The Haunting" (watch for Bruce Campbell's cameo in this one), and an "Alien" parody that even has a halfway decent looking monster. Unfortunately the film stops cold when both Mark and Sarah end up trapped in a Middle Ages setting, in a segment that takes up the bulk of the movie. Sarah is to be betrothed to the evil count Scarabis, and it takes for-freakin-EVER for Mark to save her from a lot of silly medieval doings. Alexander Godunov (aka "The Big Blonde Russian Guy from Die Hard") is pretty wooden as Scarabis, and I basically sat there the entire time wishing that they would just get out of the Arthurian era already and go back to quickly zipping through various horror movie parodies. If they were going to stick with one "genre" for almost half the movie, they should've used the "Dawn of the Dead" setting that we only see for about thirty seconds as a throwaway joke.

In short "Waxwork II," like its predecessor, has a few laughs and is technically well made but still is not without its faults. The original "Waxwork" had an air of goofy fun about it that seemed natural, but "II" constantly feels like it's trying too hard. "Waxwork II" is inferior to the original film and leans too hard on the "comedy" end of the "Comedy/Horror" equation for me. Still, fans of the original will probably want to give it a spin.

Oh, and by the way, make sure you stick around for the rap song and music video that accompanies the end credits, which you simply have to see to believe.

Quick, what movie features a murderous disembodied hand, zombies, buckets of blood, possession, projectile organs, time travel, and Bruce Campbell getting tortured? No, not Evil Dead II...Waxwork II: Lost in Time!

Picking up immediately where the first Waxwork left off, Mark Loftmore (still Zach Galligan) and Sarah Brightman (replaced by the considerably hotter Monika Schnarre) attempt to return to their normal lives. Sarah creeps back to her abusive stepfather's home where he berates her for ruining her dress. After she goes to bed, the zombie hand (also from the first film) murders the abusive stepfather because...let's face it, he had it coming.

In the typical Waxwork aside into "that makes perfect sense" territory, Sarah is blamed for her stepfather's murder, claims about murderous zombie hands not withstanding. She will likely be condemned to death unless she can prove her innocence. And that's where any semblance of realism ends, because Sarah and Mark concoct a scheme to find ANOTHER zombie hand by traveling backwards in time through a magic mirror. Because of course, that's where zombie hands hang out, right?

Waxwork II is of course not about time travel at all. It's about whatever the director (Anthony Hickox) feels like parodying, beginning with Frankenstein, alternating between Alien and The Haunting, and then throwing in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Godzilla, Jack the Ripper, Nosferatu, and Dawn of the Dead for good measure. And oh yes, a long fantasy sequence that has nothing to do with anything.

Waxwork II establishes a couple of things: They are NOT time traveling, but more dimension traveling, or perhaps film hopping. Mark and Sarah have stumbled into the world of Cartagra, "God's video game," as Sir Wilfred explains - in the form of a crow (it's complicated). Cartagra is a universe where good and evil duke it out for supremacy, apparently in the form of movie plots. Mark and Sarah are now Time Warriors, inhabiting the protagonist roles of each movie and ensuring the good guys win. Or something like that.

It is also a different form of dimension hopping than the pocket dimensions seen in the first movie. When Mark, facing down Igor the hunchback, attempts to disbelieve, he gets socked in the face for his trouble.

It's clear that Hickox a real fondness for all things Evil Dead and for swashbuckling romance. He has his cake and eats it too here (like he did in the first film) by including a long fantasy sequence involving what must be the first sword fight across movie genres. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

FRANKENSTEIN: Mark manifests as the butler, while Sarah is Frankenstein's wife. They are caught in the moment when villagers are about to set the place on fire. It takes awhile for Sarah to remember her true nature, during which time Mark battles it out with Dr. Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Monster, Igor, and angry villagers. Using a weird compass he found amongst his uncle's belongings, Mark can usually find the exit out of each movie by running in that direction, regardless of all apparent obstacles. Once he figures this out, Mark and Sarah are split up as they escape...

THE HAUNTING: Filmed in black and white, it's clear Hickox is a fan of The Haunting. And so is Marina Sirtis, collecting a paycheck. But the biggest winner here is Bruce Campbell in a hilarious series of slapstick. This is the funniest part of the movie. It's also the most overt homage to Evil Dead.

ALIEN: Sarah has taken on the role of Ripley. She faces down a giant Alien-rip-off - literally, the Aliens look terrible, with huge, lumbering heads. The Facehugger-equivalents are much more disturbing, with tentacles probing orifices. This scene drags on far too long, seeking to emulate the terrible silences and long pauses in Alien. Fortunately, Mark shows up and ends the madness just in time.

RANDOM FANTASY SETTING: Hickox may be a fan of horror movies, but what he really wants to do is write a swashbuckling romance. So stuck in the middle of the rest of the horror homage is this sloppy collection of Monty Python jokes, subpar special effects, and confusing elements. The best part is George (Michael Des Barres), a powdered, effeminate dandy who isn't afraid to murder people with a garrote. There are some laugh-out-loud jokes here, but they don't save the piece. Oh and David Carradine (?). There's also the aforementioned appearance of the talking crow, which is in fact Sir Wilfred reincarnated. His appearance presages a huge exposition dump explaining Cartagra. No matter, all is forgiven as Mark engages in a no-holds-barred sword fight with the villain, Scarabis (Alexander Godunoy) across the universe. In no particular order, their cross-dimensional brawl leads them to...

GODZILLA: A giant, poorly made puppet. The most hilarious part being that Mark is badly dubbed in English.

JACK THE RIPPER: Okay, not really a movie per se. Poor Jack gets kicked into...

NOSFERATU: Silent and with intertitles, Hickox nails the entire feel of a silent movie. And we get to see Nosferatu gnash his teeth after The Ripper.

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS: Sarah takes a sneak peak at people running from a train. And alien pods.

DAWN OF THE DEAD: 1970s style attire, a funky beat, and a bunch of people bristling with guns shooting at zombies in a mall. It also conveniently provides a disembodied zombie hand, that flimsy "evidence" our heroes were looking for.

The swordfight ends back in Fantasy-land, but only one person can go back through the portal. Mark pushes Sarah through.

Sarah, with evidence of a zombie hand CLEARLY confirming her innocence, receives a note from Mark in the "past", attempting to establish that he was indeed time traveling. Yeah, right.

And the lovers are reunited. Eventually. The End.

Cue a gonzo song about the film, complete with rap lyrics that narrate the entire ridiculous story and 1980s style dancers.

Less horror and more a tribute to films Hickox happens to like, Waxwork II never seems to make up its mind as to what film it wants to be when it grows up. But that's part of its charm.

This classic 80's horror nuggett is about a group of college friends, invited to a waxwork by the most handsome gentleman. When they arrive to the waxwork, they are in for a night of their lives, and some won't be going home! It is scary, altough comical at times. Love this movie, classic 80's horror, a must for any 80's horror buff.

This has been a personal favorite since I was 6 years old. If, you love any genre of low-budget films this has it all.

It has sci-fi, horror, time travel, comedy, curses, werewolves, vampires, whips, mummies, aliens, monsters, and Gremlins very own Zach Galligan.

Just buy it already.