Waxwork

The portmanteau horror movie makes a hesitant comeback with this jokey teen splatter pic. Invited to a midnight show by the owner (Warner) of a mysterious waxwork exhibit, six teenagers are spooked by lifelike tableaux depicting the 18 most evil men who ever lived. Drawn into the victimless displays, they catapult back through time, and find themselves on the business end of the Wolfman's claws, Dracula's fangs, or the Marquis de Sade's riding whip. The clunking inconsistencies which litter the episodic plot mar enjoyment of the striking set designs and outrageous (censored) gore. The final showdown degenerates into a cross between a Western saloon brawl and a custard pie fight. In short, this cannot hold a candle to its AIP and Amicus predecessors, and mostly just gets on one's wick.