There is much to look forward to in the upcoming horror flick "House of Wax." Exactly what that is, however, is a bit hard to say.
The film, which opens May 6, stars Elisha Cuthbert ('The Girl Next Door," "24") and Chad Michael Murray ("Freaky Friday") as Carly and Nick Jones, fraternal twins who get stranded in a small Iowa town on their way to a college football game. Traveling with them are their two friends Wade and Paige, played by Jared Padalecki and the notorious Paris Hilton, who makes her big screen debut in "House of Wax."
The Iowa town's main attraction is the bizarre House of Wax, run by two brothers who make their wax figures from the corpses of hapless victims.
The film is a remake of the 1953 cult classic starring the legendary Vincent Price, which was the first major studio film to be released in 3D. This sets the bar quite high for the upcoming 2005 "House of Wax," but stars Cuthbert and Murray guaranteed that the film would live up to the reputation established by the original - minus the camp.
"It's definitely 2005. There are a lot more younger actors involved," said Cuthbert in a tone audible almost only to canines, but deafening to English teachers. She added, "It's definitely better."
"We've contemporized the movie for our audiences," said Murray.
Commenting later on the same question, said Hilton, "I get to wear sexy red lingerie in the sex scene. I don't think there was a sex scene in the first one."
1953? Probably not. How many years ago was that, Paris?
While filming "House of Wax," most cast members grew a sort of hatred for the substance, used primarily in candles but also useful in creating life-like replicas of human beings. When asked if he would like to see himself reproduced in the stuff, Murray was quick to answer, "I think I'll pass."
Hilton, apparently, took a liking to the idea. Her wax figure will be unveiled in the famous Madam Tussuad's wax museum in London next month.
Aside from just the wax, Cuthbert insisted that "House of Wax" is not going to be just another lame teen horror flick.
"We've stepped it up a notch as far as teen horror films go," she said. "People remember the horror movies they watched when they were younger and wonder, 'Where did those movies go?' Well, we have it."
What they also had was Paris Hilton, completely out of her element, on a conference call with a group of student reporters. Hilton lamented her time away from Los Angeles while filming "House of Wax" in the dreary and uninteresting Gold Coast region of Australia (which has much in common with rural Iowa, topographically.)
"It was nice being away from L.A. because there are no distractions," she said, adding, "But also it was kind of lonely to be away from my friends."
Hilton also took the defensive when questioned about her lack of silver screen experience. When asked why she was cast in the film, Hilton was quick to retort.
"Because I look hot. We all look good together," she said.
This bold reporter for The Eagle pushed one step further, asking Hilton how she felt about being a celebrity first, then creating a movie career from her arbitrary fame.
"Whatever," Hilton said. "That's just how it happened."
Well, duh.
