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The Wax Mask

Original title: M.D.C. - Maschera di cera
  • 1997
  • Unrated
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
The Wax Mask (1997)
Horror

In 1900 Paris, a couple are horribly murdered by a masked man whose metal claw rips out their hearts. The sole survivor and witness to the massacre is a young girl. 12 years later in Rome, a... Read allIn 1900 Paris, a couple are horribly murdered by a masked man whose metal claw rips out their hearts. The sole survivor and witness to the massacre is a young girl. 12 years later in Rome, a new wax museum opens; its main attractions are lifelike recreations of gruesome murder sc... Read allIn 1900 Paris, a couple are horribly murdered by a masked man whose metal claw rips out their hearts. The sole survivor and witness to the massacre is a young girl. 12 years later in Rome, a new wax museum opens; its main attractions are lifelike recreations of gruesome murder scenes. A young man bets that he can spend the whole night in the museum, but the next morni... Read all

  • Director
    • Sergio Stivaletti
  • Writers
    • Dario Argento
    • Lucio Fulci
    • Daniele Stroppa
  • Stars
    • Robert Hossein
    • Romina Mondello
    • Riccardo Serventi Longhi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sergio Stivaletti
    • Writers
      • Dario Argento
      • Lucio Fulci
      • Daniele Stroppa
    • Stars
      • Robert Hossein
      • Romina Mondello
      • Riccardo Serventi Longhi
    • 30User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos77

    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    Robert Hossein in The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    The Wax Mask (1997)
    Robert Hossein in The Wax Mask (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Hossein
    Robert Hossein
    • Boris Volkoff
    Romina Mondello
    Romina Mondello
    • Sonia Lafont
    Riccardo Serventi Longhi
    Riccardo Serventi Longhi
    • Andrea Conversi
    Gabriella Giorgelli
    Gabriella Giorgelli
    • Aunt Francesca
    Umberto Balli
    • Alex
    Valery Valmond
    Valery Valmond
    • Giorgina
    Gianni Franco
    Gianni Franco
    • Inspector Palazzi
    Antonello Murru
    • Museum Caretaker
    Daniel Auber
    Daniel Auber
    • Luca
    • (as Daniele Auber)
    Romano Iannelli
    • Pathologist
    Rosa Pianeta
    • Anna's Mother
    Sonia Topazio
    • Nurse
    Massimo Vanni
    Massimo Vanni
    • Victor
    Aldo Massasso
    • Inspector Lanvin
    Sabrina Pellegrino
    • Elena
    Giuseppina Lo Vetro
    • Madama
    Luca Memé
    • Brothel Patron
    Goffredo Unger
    Goffredo Unger
    • Puppeteer
    • Director
      • Sergio Stivaletti
    • Writers
      • Dario Argento
      • Lucio Fulci
      • Daniele Stroppa
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally intended by Dario Argento as a comeback for colleague (though not friend) Lucio Fulci. Unfortunately, only a few weeks before filming was about to begin, Fulci died and on short notice, the directing job was handed over to special effects expert Sergio Stivaletti.
    • Goofs
      At 1:04:12, Volkoff put a pin through the picture of Sonia he just clipped. Seven seconds later, as Alex watch him secretly through the door, he does exactly the same action with the pin.
    • Connections
      Featured in I tre volti del terrore (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      La donna è mobile
      (uncredited)

      from "Rigoletto"

      Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

      Music by Giuseppe Verdi

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    House of Wax Italian Style
    If you ever wondered what House of Wax would look like reimagined as an Italian giallo, you're in luck, because The Wax Mask is exactly that. Sure, there are a few liberties taken here and there, but it's still eerily similar.

    A young woman sees her family murdered and, years later, she begins working for a wax museum where there's a set piece that looks an uncanny amount like the crime scene from her childhood. She begins to piece together that the wax exhibits are more than simple sculptures and might have real people underneath them.

    As in most Italian films, the dialogue doesn't always translate well to English and there are some sacrifices of logic for cool set pieces, but it's typically an enjoyable ride.

    Director Sergio Stivaletti gets to have a great time with The Wax Mask. This film has some great camera work and a few great set pieces. It's never quite to the level of Argento, Bava, or Fulci, but it's far from workmanlike. The gore effects are strong and nasty, but the film does seem to go on and on at times and could benefit from a few minutes being shaved off.
    helpful•7
    0
    • molemandavid
    • Oct 14, 2019

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 4, 1997 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Le masque de cire
    • Filming locations
      • Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Mediaset
      • France Film International
      • Cine 2000
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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