(2003/USA)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-TOBE HOOPER CAST-JULIET LANDAU, ANGELA BETTIS, BRENT ROAM, CHRISTOPHER DOYLE, RANCE HOWARD and CARLEASE BURKE. SOURCE-LIONS GATE DVD (NTSC R1)(2005)
When young couple, Nell and Steven moving in to their new apartment in the Lushman Arms, things don’t get any easier. Steven a doctor who is just starting out working all the time, adds stress to their relationship. The Lushman Arms with all it’s mysterious history, it’s ongoing renovations and it’s assortment of strange tenants are at the mercy of a mostly unseen maniac killer. Killing after killing, Nell is convinced that there is something wrong and turns to warn both the police and her husband with no avail. So, she investigates herself after a clue has been given to her by an mysterious old man named Rance. Now, in the heart of the killers path of destruction, it is only now that he has taken notice to Nell as do the others, but is it too late to save her. Only the tools can tell if she gets hammered next?
Well, for awhile there it was certainly hit and miss for director Tobe Hooper, though of late it was misses that plagued him. Directing such films as 2000's horrible killer croc film CROCODILE, the dismal 1993 film NIGHT TERRORS, Hooper has better success of late through his many television projects. His past has been quite shadowy in the first place since he first made views with his cult classic THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. His direction on Steve Spielberg produced and uncredited direction in the 1982 film POLTERGEIST, a film that clearly gives off more Spielberg the Hooper. His firing from the director’s chair for the now known Pier’s Haggard film VENOM with Klaus Kinski. In my opinion the only film that Tobe Hooper has had any glory since TEXAS was his 1981 film THE FUNHOUSE. EATEN ALIVE, LIFEFORCE and TEXAS CHAINSAW 2 were at best sub-par to his real talents. Talents that he was able to re-create for the 1977 television mini-series classic adaptation of Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT.
Well, that hit of glory has finally found Hooper again with this a rough remake of the 1978 exploitation/horror film THE TOOLBOX MURDERS directed by Dennis Donnelly. He has returned to his true elements, a small budget and pure raw horror. Though TOOLBOX MURDERS differs from the original, it still incorporates elements found in the first one. A maniac stocking a rundown apartment building in Los Angeles. What differs is the reasons why the killer is there and why he is killing. The one thing that is stressed in the beginning of Hooper's vision is simply explained in the film's starting few seconds with a few effective lines that foreshadow one of the most important themes that goes unseen by the average viewer. That being the simple fact of the hundreds of thousands who go to Hollywood in search of their dreams, some make it, some return home and other just disappear. A simple message, that rings true, and is directed at those very young viewers who have this very thought going their their own minds.
TOOLBOX MURDERS incorporates a dual layer storyline that eventually crosses over to explain the very reasons and origins of both the apartment building and it’s killers. It digs much more deeper and a hell of a lot darker then the original 1978 film did. To be honest, the only reason I even had a hint of fondness for THE TOOLBOX MURDERS, was the very presence of the ultimate symbol of creepiness, Cameron Mitchell. Hooper’s TOOLBOX, not only has it’s new symbol of creepiness in "Coffin Baby", the killer who is born to a dead mother in her coffin, but he also incorporates a worthy advisory in Nell Barrows (Angela Bettis), who does a wonder job playing the only tenant who realizes what just might be going on. Another nice addition is that of Juliet Landau the daughter of Martin Landau and Barbra Bain.
Hooper’s realization of this the remake, wasn’t too rehash the agony that one had suffered through the 1978 version, but to give it a new and much more entertaining purpose. Though the storyline and plot aren’t the film’s strong points, neither is the acting, but it’s the situations and the flow of the film itself that really convey Hooper’s vision. Using the old formula of starting out with a bang, throwing a few grab-ya’s through the course of the film and then ending it with a major string of "I can’t open my eyes...it’s too gory" ride. Of course that would only be in the case of those faint in the stomach, those gore hounds would enjoy this ride for certain. One must remember though this is a remake, of course baring little in common with the original, something that would scare most die-hard fans off. Though I’d already confessed to being less then diehard for the original, this isn’t the case here. This time, the tools really do the killing.
Yes, there are plenty of scares in this Hooper’s new "funhouse", providing the viewer with tons of great subtle scare tactics and jump scenes. Killer draped with the classic ski-mask, a symbol of terror itself, armed with a legend of devoted tools that certainly do the job. All of which is entombed in a very atmospheric setting, very doom and gloomy with a touch a consist curiosity with each scene. Something that will most certainly keep you interested to the very end. Though this is a far cry from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, it is however at least entertaining enough for a worthy viewing.
The Lions Gate DVD is the usual big studio initial offering to the fans who can’t wait to see this. Jumping at it’s gleaming glory and finding out that once again they have been taken for a ride and will have to upgrade in the near future. Both picture and sound are above average incorporating the usual 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround in an anamorphic wide-screen presentation. Given little to bite at in terms of an real extras. Extras being the film’s trailer, five minutes in deleted scenes that will appease at least most gore hounds and a few second interview with Hooper and others during the Fearless Tales festival. The real keeper on this disc though it he audio commentary provided by Hooper, and the two writers Jace Anderson and Adam Geirasch. The three of them talk in great details on the film on a whole especially the influences that went into the making of TOOLBOX. Films like Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA and certain novels as well. Fans will really enjoy this audio portion of the disc as it is quite fun to listen to the three of them interact and reminisce about the making of TOOLBOX. I one shouldn’t expect more from a disc like this giving it’s low budget background and it’s director’s uneven past.
STORY-3 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-3 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-3 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-2.5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-2.5 BITCH SLAPS
