Toolbox Murders
Encyclopedia
Toolbox Murders is a remake
of the 1978 film The Toolbox Murders
. In spring of 2003, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
and Poltergeist director Tobe Hooper announced he had plans to direct the remake. Hooper announced his cast as Angela Bettis
from the cult hit May
, and Juliet Landau
, from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. Sheri Moon
(Baby, from a House of 1000 Corpses
and The Devil's Rejects
) had a cameo.
) and her husband, Steven (Roam), move to an old building called Lusman Arms. Some sixty years ago, the place was glamorous, but presently is completely dilapidated, and many of its residents have disappeared while living there. While her husband is working in the hospital, the lonely Nell hears weird noises and becomes afraid of their home.
While jogging, she is introduced and becomes close to her neighbor Julia Cunningham (Landau
) and they schedule a hike together on the next day. Julia never shows up, and Nell looks for her in the building. She finds that there is an evil being, descended from death itself, living hidden behind a wall with many corpses.
Toolbox Murders struck many Hooper fans and horror fans as a welcome return for Tobe Hooper who had been on a decline in films since the early 90s. Toolbox Murders received only a limited release in 2003 and 2004. The film was released on DVD in the United States in 2005.
This is Hooper's second of three collaborations with writers Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson. The first was the creature feature Crocodile released in 2000. The third collaboration was on the 2005 release of Mortuary.
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the 1978 film The Toolbox Murders
The Toolbox Murders
The Toolbox Murders is a 1978 slasher film starring Cameron Mitchell, Tim Donnelly, Pamelyn Ferdin, and Wesley Eure. It is notorious for its reputation as a video nasty due to its violent murder scenes in the film's first act...
. In spring of 2003, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
and Poltergeist director Tobe Hooper announced he had plans to direct the remake. Hooper announced his cast as Angela Bettis
Angela Bettis
Angela Marie Bettis is an American actress, film producer and director best known for her lead roles in the 2002 TV remake of the Stephen King film Carrie, the title character in May , and in Girl, Interrupted as the anorexic girl Janet Webber.-Early life:Bettis was born in Austin, Texas to Mary...
from the cult hit May
May (film)
May is a 2002 American horror film. It stars Angela Bettis, Anna Faris, and Jeremy Sisto, and was written and directed by Lucky McKee.-Plot:...
, and Juliet Landau
Juliet Landau
Juliet Rose Landau is an American actress best known for her role as Drusilla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff show Angel, the latter appearance earning her a Saturn Award nomination. She is also known for co-starring as Loretta King Hadler in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.She has appeared in a...
, from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. Sheri Moon
Sheri Moon
Sheri Lyn Skurkis is an American actress and fashion designer. She legally changed her name to Sheri Moon and later Sheri Moon Zombie after she married her longtime boyfriend Rob Zombie. She has been described as a "scream queen".-Personal life:Moon was raised in Connecticut and graduated from...
(Baby, from a House of 1000 Corpses
House of 1000 Corpses
House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 exploitation horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie; it is his directorial debut. It was released in the United States on April 11, 2003 by Lions Gate Entertainment.-Plot:...
and The Devil's Rejects
The Devil's Rejects
The Devil's Rejects is a 2005 American horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie, and the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The film is about the family of psychopathic killers from the previous film now on the run...
) had a cameo.
Plot
In Hollywood, the young teacher Nell (BettisAngela Bettis
Angela Marie Bettis is an American actress, film producer and director best known for her lead roles in the 2002 TV remake of the Stephen King film Carrie, the title character in May , and in Girl, Interrupted as the anorexic girl Janet Webber.-Early life:Bettis was born in Austin, Texas to Mary...
) and her husband, Steven (Roam), move to an old building called Lusman Arms. Some sixty years ago, the place was glamorous, but presently is completely dilapidated, and many of its residents have disappeared while living there. While her husband is working in the hospital, the lonely Nell hears weird noises and becomes afraid of their home.
While jogging, she is introduced and becomes close to her neighbor Julia Cunningham (Landau
Juliet Landau
Juliet Rose Landau is an American actress best known for her role as Drusilla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff show Angel, the latter appearance earning her a Saturn Award nomination. She is also known for co-starring as Loretta King Hadler in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.She has appeared in a...
) and they schedule a hike together on the next day. Julia never shows up, and Nell looks for her in the building. She finds that there is an evil being, descended from death itself, living hidden behind a wall with many corpses.
Cast
- Angela BettisAngela BettisAngela Marie Bettis is an American actress, film producer and director best known for her lead roles in the 2002 TV remake of the Stephen King film Carrie, the title character in May , and in Girl, Interrupted as the anorexic girl Janet Webber.-Early life:Bettis was born in Austin, Texas to Mary...
as Nell Barrows - Brent Roam as Steven Barrows
- Marco Rodriguez as Luis Saucedo
- Rance HowardRance HowardRance Howard is an American actor who has starred in film and on television.-Life and career:Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. He married Jean Speegle Howard...
as Chas Rooker - Juliet LandauJuliet LandauJuliet Rose Landau is an American actress best known for her role as Drusilla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff show Angel, the latter appearance earning her a Saturn Award nomination. She is also known for co-starring as Loretta King Hadler in Tim Burton's Ed Wood.She has appeared in a...
as Julia Cunningham - Adam Gierasch as Ned Lundy
- Greg TravisGreg TravisGreg Travis is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 feature films and internationally recognised stand-up comedian. Based in the U.S. he created the comedy character David Sleaze, The Punk Magician, in which he puts on a punk rock-style wig and does a variety of bad magic tricks using...
as Byron McLieb - Chris DoyleChris DoyleChris Doyle is a multi-media artist who lives in New York. His major public projects have included LEAP, presented by Creative Time in Columbus Circle and Commutable, presented by the Public Art Fund on the Lower East Side , both in New York City...
as Coffin Baby - Sheri Moon ZombieSheri MoonSheri Lyn Skurkis is an American actress and fashion designer. She legally changed her name to Sheri Moon and later Sheri Moon Zombie after she married her longtime boyfriend Rob Zombie. She has been described as a "scream queen".-Personal life:Moon was raised in Connecticut and graduated from...
as Daisy Rain - Adam Weisman as Austin Sterling
- Christina Venuti as Jennifer
- Sara DowningSara DowningSara Nicole Downing is an American actress who has had a starring role in the television series Dead Last.-Filmography:* Boy Meets World .... Camryn...
as Saffron Kirby - Jamison Reeves as Hudson
- Stephanie Silverman as Dora Sterling
- Allan Polonsky as Philip Sterling
- Charlie Paulson as Hans
- Eric Ladin as Johnny Turnbull
- Sheri Moon as Daisy Rain
- Price Carson as Officer Daniel Stone
- Carlease Burke as Officer Melody
- Bob McMinn as Shadow Man
- Ralph Morris as Nell's father
Reception
Early reports of screenings were positive and many horror websites said this film would put Hooper back on the map. It currently holds a 47% "rotten" approval rating on the movie review website rotten tomatoes based on 15 reviews, with an average score of 5.9/10. The film was originally rated NC-17, but some gory moments were trimmed for an R rating. The scenes were released as extras on the US release of Toolbox Murders DVD. The majority of the film turned out to be a reimagining than an actual remake of the original.Toolbox Murders struck many Hooper fans and horror fans as a welcome return for Tobe Hooper who had been on a decline in films since the early 90s. Toolbox Murders received only a limited release in 2003 and 2004. The film was released on DVD in the United States in 2005.
This is Hooper's second of three collaborations with writers Adam Gierasch and Jace Anderson. The first was the creature feature Crocodile released in 2000. The third collaboration was on the 2005 release of Mortuary.