Synopsis
School teacher Nell and her husband move to an old hotel houses called Russman Tower in Hollywood. What they don’t know is that a murderer who uses tools to kill his victims is hiding somewhere in the hotel complex. As their neighbors die one by one, Nell slowly begins to figure out the secrets of Russman Tower. Toolbox Murders is a remake of Dennis Donelly’s 1978 horror slasher of the same name. But don’t write it off as another 70s horror remake. Who besides hardcore gore fans would have heard of Toolbox Murders? The director is Tobe Hooper, who made the 70s horror cult classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Hooper’s remake doesn’t just follow the original’s splatter tactics, but flavours the film with his own unique style. Instead of the gory original, Hooper’s remake has more of the gothic flavour of The Phantom of the Opera. Angela Bettis’s performance as Nell beautifully echoes the leading ladies of the Victorian Age. Still, don’t underestimate this film as polite, as Hooper doesn’t hold back on the blood and scares the audiences just like he did with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. (Djuna)