Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Uncapie’s one of those old-school AICN spies, a guy who’s been around since the very start, it seems. It’s always a pleasure when he pops up with something to report, like today...
Tobe Hooper is back on target after some stinkeroos with his latest edition, a remake(In name only.) of "The Toolbox Murders." Creatively written by scribes Jace Anderson and Adam Gierash(Who also has a part in the film as the mysterious handy man, "Ed Lundy,") this spooky, atmospheric thriller brings back memories of the late 70's and mid 80's Italian giallo horror films of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulchi fame.
Story opens with a young couple that moves into a haunted apartment building, the Lawson (in reality, the defunct, but skillfully well dressed Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.), that was built in the 1920's as a movie star hideaway. Problems arose with several deaths that plagued the structure causing the backers to pull out and the owner having to finish the building alone. Lawson, the owner, who dabbled in the supernatural, disappeared and was never found.
An eclectic assortment of characters begin to meet their grisly, yet untimely deaths by a masked figure that seems to appear from out of nowhere by claw hammer, power drill, bolt cutters and an ingenious use of a pneumatic nail gun. Its up to our heroine, Nell Barrows (Angela Bettis) to solve the mystery of the building through the use of mystical occult symbols that act as clues and catch the killer.
The film has a great feel to it. Though, there is a tinge of homage to his own work with the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and in certain set ups and scenes. Older audiences that know his work will see this; younger ones will jump out of their seats with this scarefest, eyes glued to the screen.
The acting is solid with Bettis and Brent Roam headlining as the young couple that has just moved in. Juliet Landau and Sheri Moon are standouts as a woman who has just lost fifty pounds discover her beauty for the first time and a wild, sixties hippie chick. Gierash as the handy man, Ed, is just creepy and justifiably so as evidence of the murders points towards him. Veteran actor, Rance Howard (Opie Cunningham's dad.) is in full form as aging film star "Chas Rooker," who knows the history and the secret of the Lawson Building, but is reluctant to tell anyone for fear of his life.
Joseph Conlan's score keeps the films pace. Its very well written and gives the film a dark ambiance the way Goblin does their movie scores. Suspenseful in some parts, mysterious in others. Overall, first rate.
Tight editing by Andrew Cohen and beautiful DP work by Steve Yedlin add to its flavor and make this a must see film.
Keep making them like this Tobe. You're right on track again.
Uncapie
Angela Bettis? Sherri Moon? Juliet Landau? Creepy hot chicks a-plenty! For this reason alone, I can’t wait to see this one! Thanks again, Uncapie.
"Moriarty" out.
