Nightmare in Wax (1969)

“House of Wax” reimagined for the late 60s with Cameron Mitchell

Shot in late 1966, but not released until spring, 1969, this ‘B’ horror is different enough from Vincent Price’s more well-known flick to make it worthwhile. The modern-day setting distinguishes it from similar films, such as 1966’s “Chamber of Horrors.”

It’s colorful, surprisingly inventive, and effectively captures the groovy late 1960s, particularly the go-go dancing sequence featuring The T-Bones, which brings to mind the contemporaneous “Corruption” wherein 54 years-old Peter Cushing goes to a ‘rad’ party.

In the beauty department, there’s Anne Helm as protagonist Marie, Victoria Carroll as ditzy blonde Theresa and Mercedes Alberti as Stella in semi-suspended animation. More shoulda been done with them, but they nevertheless shine.

Some people are confused by the ending, but the answer is literally in the title of the movie. Think of another film that debuted the same year, “The Night of the Following Day.” Evidently, the idea was fresh back then.

It runs about 10 minutes too long at 1h 35m; and was shot in the Los Angeles area, specifically the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park and the Santa Monica Pier.

GRADE: B/B-