i do not think i be alone when i say that 2005 have not be particularly kind to the horror genre . while curse and hide and seek and the ring two and and the amityville horror all show glimpse of interest and potential and there have be more miss than hit . for proof and see represent white noise and boogeyman and the jacket and mindhunters and and alone in the dark . imagine my surprise when house of wax and tightly write by sibling chad and carey hayes and turn out to be . well and a surprise . carly jones ( elisha cuthbert ) be a young woman and travel with her trouble make brother and nick ( chad michael murray ) and and boyfriend and wade ( jared padalecki ) . they be and along with paige ( paris hilton ) and blake ( robert richard ) and and dalton ( jon abraham ) and hop to score ticket to the final football game of the season . along the way and they run into some car trouble and and be force to enter a desolate town where nothing be what it appear to be . upon hearing of this and a remake of the classic vincent price b movie and i roll my eye . i do not even want to think about what disaster freshman director jaume serra have cook up for his audience . in a time when most high profile horror film be disappointment and latent with bad writing and static direction and and amateur acting and i consider myself lucky that serra and the hayes brother take it upon themselves to make a good and old fashion and spook fest . unlike the disappointment that i name before and this flick pull no punch and and use every cinematic trick in the book to give everyone exactly what they come for . i be happy that the hayes actually take the time and effort to create likable and believable character and thus make the event that much more urgent . it also give the young actor portray them something grip on . a she do in the girl next door and elisha cuthbert prove to audiences what a skilled actress she really be . in the 2003 remake of the texas chainsaw massacre and jessica biel silence naysayer by deliver a raw and emotional performance and one that put the viewer right there with her . here and cuthbert do the same . chad michael murray ( a cinderella story ) and in one of his first more mature role and be no slacker a nick . murray exude charisma and a hard edge and as well a some impressive athleticism on top of it . murray and cuthbert gel perfectly and and have tangible and familial chemistry . more so than anything else and the press and the american public have make a field day about paris hilton major act debut . a i expect and hilton do not embarrass herself . in fact and she be just as good a anyone else in the movie ( do with that what you will ) . like cuthbert and murray and hilton have screen presence . she be sexy and playful . i can not think one of reason why she get the bad of the film harsh reception and other than they be simply pick on her . jared padalecki ( tv gilmore girl ) memorably manage to overcome his underwritten role . robert richard ( tv cousin skeeter ) and jon abraham ( meet the parent ) do not have much to work with and but get the job do . with only one scene and damon herriman ( soar ) make an unforgettable impression and and his presence hang over the rest of the film . finally and brian van holt ( basic ) be superb and threaten in a dual role . once more and kudos must go to the screenwriter for avoid clichés whenever possible . despite popular opinion and house of wax be quite unpredictable for a majority of it running time . take this for example represent it seem a if the killer be down for the count and carly bend down to retrieve something from his pocket . what do you expect to happen . see the movie and and you will understand what i mean . it be also refresh to see a horror film in which the character show even a modicum of good sense . unlike most horror score and john ottman exhilarate work never distract . however and a with dark castle other release and the visual aspect of wax be award worthy and and lift the film above it genre trapping . the talent of cinematographer stephen f. windon and production designer graham walker and art director nicholas mccallum and and editor joel negron highlight the ghoulish imagery . speaking of imagery and i believe that the gore hound will be thrill with the many makeup effect and trick in store here . each death scene be more stomach churn than the last . consider his past in music video and commercial and it be obvious that jaume serra have a great eye for style . his in your face approach be a great asset to this film success . just when you think the camera will turn away and it do not . he be also particularly good a building thick layer of dread and atmosphere . one standout shot be our introduction to the killer and a he slowly emerge from a trap door . in a case like this and i would usually admit when i be in the minority ( shut up and okay . i like house of 1000 corps . ) . in this case and i firmly that the detractor have get it wrong . i be not sure why people be so hard on this film and consider it much well than recent genre entry . maybe theyre afraid to admit that a horror flick star paris hilton could possibly be worth watch . who know . this be a horror film and and a commendably stylish and effective one at that . a a lifelong horror fan and all i can say be that i thoroughly enjoy house of wax and in all of it lurid and sadistic glory . i safely consider it a great accomplishment in modern horror and as well a ( along with sin city ) the first completely satisfy release of 2005 .