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View Full Version : Toolbox Murders (2003)


imported_Floydian_Trip
03-27-2005, 08:28 PM
Watched Tobi Hooper's Toolbox Murders over the weekend. It was a good rental but I won't be adding it to my collection anytime soon. I loved the set. The old apartment building was sufficiently creepy and drab and set the tone right. The score was decent as was the acting for the most part. I'm a huge fan of Angela Bettis and I think she does a great job in this film though not quite up to par with her performance in May. Though they are two completely different roles as she plays the victim here and in May she plays the psychotic killer. I can't help but plug May again. It's a must see for fans of horror. Dig the shrine to Dario Argento's Opera in one scene. Anyway back to Toolbox Murders.

I can't help but think after watching it that it could have been so much more than it was and a real return to form for Tobi. I wasn't expecting anything to rival Texas Chainsaw Massacre but I would have loved to see something that came close. There just wasn't a strong sense of menace in the picture and the killer was definitely underplayed and under explained as I'm still not exactely sure of what to make of him. They don't really tie the killer in with the supernatural/occult themes very well.

It's pretty much been there done that but still I enjoyed it. I was disappointed in the lack of hard core gore though. It has its share of gore but Tobi could have really gone for the throat with this one but instead they cut away just when it's about to get really messy. Then I think that there is an unrated cut out there with more gore so maybe I'm just watching the wrong version.

While I don't think this is great by any means it sure as hell is better than what we're seeing so far this year. I highly recommend a rental to fans of the genre.

What did you guys think?

Oh yeah was a little disappointed in the quick death of Sherri Moon. Not even a good look at that incredible body of hers.

S.D. Bob Plissken
03-28-2005, 11:06 PM
I liked it. While it was nothing I will instantly run out and buy, it's definitely the best thing Hooper has done in ages. Hopefully it's a sign of quality films to come from him.

Ah yes, a word used often around here......................."hope".

rise above
04-01-2005, 07:40 PM
i agree it was ok to rent but i doubt that i would put down some hard earned cash for this one. the acting was better than i was expecting. and the set is very cool to look at

imported_Floydian_Trip
04-01-2005, 10:51 PM
I'm waiting for them to release the unedited version here then I'll buy it for sure. If it shows more of the gore that is. I don't know why they pulled away from it all the time. Angela Bettis is awesome. I hope she keeps making genre movies.

CHOPPER DENTON
04-04-2005, 06:07 PM
i dug it too. i thought the killer was great and unexpected. i thought Angela B. looked a little too scrawny though.
did someone say something about an unrated version?

cfMC
04-20-2005, 10:08 PM
I'm waiting for them to release the unedited version here then I'll buy it for sure. If it shows more of the gore that is. I don't know why they pulled away from it all the time. Angela Bettis is awesome. I hope she keeps making genre movies.

the DVD I got has the redacted gore scenes in the special features. they play like mini gore movies. too bad they arent just edited right into the feature. oh well. I like this movie. Tobe Hooper always comes in under the radar to me. Funhouse, Eaten Alive, Lifeforce, Invaders From Mars ... they are all fun movies that I enjoy more upon repeat than I do the first time. Never anything super new, but always capable genre representations. it would be easy to dismiss Toolbox Murderers as rote... but that's kind of the point