Toolbox Murders

Although this being the era of remakes, it is surprising that the lesser known 1978 ''nasty'', The Toolbox Murders (directed by Dennis Donnelly), would be subject to this trend before, let's say, The Hills Have Eyes (to mention yet another 70's horror film surrounded by remake rumours).
There is not much similarity to the original, apart from taking place in an apartment complex and the toolbox murders going on. Here we get to know Nell and Steven Barrow, a young couple moving into an old Hollywood apartment building just as a renovation is taking place. Steven is a young, hard working doctor leaving Nell to spend most of her time
alone in their apartment. It is as if the soul of the building has taken offence when someone, obviously connected with the house, is killing off the residents, one by one. The thin walls, letting all sorts of sound get through, make Nell increasingly sure that something evil is going on behind the closed doors.
Hooper manages to bring back some of the ''killing for killing's sake ideal'' of 70' s horror. The obvious references to gore maestro Lucio Fulci also show that Hooper holds the same nostalgic feelings towards the Golden Age of Horror as any true genre fan.

JONATHAN ROZENKRANTZ

Medverkande
Angela Bettis, Juliet Landau, Brent Roam: Producent
Roland Carroll: Manus
Jace Anderson: Foto
Steve Yedlin: Musik
Joseph Conlan: Talat språk
English