Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Threat, moments of violence in classic 1950s horror.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
House of Wax
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HOUSE OF WAX, Professor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is an artist who has devoted his life to a collection of impressively detailed waxwork figures—like his beloved Marie Antoinette and Cleopatra. His business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts), is more focused on profit. When Jarrod refuses to change the collection to make a quick buck, Burke burns the place down, hoping to collect the insurance and run. But years later, a new wax museum emerges, and its exhibits are more realistic than ever. So much so that after the murder of her friend Cathy (Carolyn Jones), local woman Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk) is shocked by a waxwork of her likeness and begins to suspect there's something disturbing at play.
Is It Any Good?
Undeniably creepy, and beautifully shot with threatening shadows around every corner, this 1950s horror is full of atmosphere and great effects for its time. For horror fans who've seen the 2005 remake, there isn't a huge amount in common outside of the basic premise, but House of Wax is a classic of the genre that still has plenty to offer today. Price is perfectly cast as the obsessive, darkly ominous artist at the center of the story, willing to do whatever it takes to breathe life into his creations and see his talent live on. Kirk is smart and resourceful beyond the wide-eyed hysteria acknowledged by the men around her, and Jones is also great in the supporting role of her doomed best friend Cathy. Charles Bronson looms from the sidelines in a non-verbal role, and there isn't a dull performance elsewhere in the house. The gothic buildings and dimly lit streets have an impact of their own, and given the movie was designed to help usher in a new era of 3D cinema, the novelty effects are relatively restrained. A killer looms wildly into the frame and a person playing with a paddleball is featured more heavily than he likely would have been otherwise, but the film stands up just as well viewed in two dimensions. It may not be the kind of violent gore-fest it was made into in the early 2000s, but this is a timeless piece of cinema that fans of the genre, and movie history, will no doubt relish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how House of Wax fits into the horror genre. What horror cliches did you notice? How does it compare to other horrors of its era? How does it compare to today's horror landscape?
How is the main female character Sue Allen presented? How are women portrayed in the film more generally?
Have you seen the 2005 remake of House of Wax? If so, how does it compare? Which do you prefer and why? If not, does watching this encourage you to try it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 10, 1953
- On DVD or streaming : August 5, 2003
- Cast : Vincent Price , Phyllis Kirk , Paul Cavanagh
- Director : André De Toth
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 2, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate