Toolbox Murders

2004
R
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Slasher Horror Supernatural Horror Horror Mystery Thriller

A historic Hollywood hotel houses a supernatural evil. It's been subdued for decades, but when renovations start, a series of murders take place.A historic Hollywood hotel houses a supernatural evil. It's been subdued for decades, but when renovations start, a series of murders take place.A historic Hollywood hotel houses a supernatural evil. It's been subdued for decades, but when renovations start, a series of murders take place.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

Trivia
Christian Bale stated in an interview that he tried hard to contact Tobe Hooper for the role of Steven Barrows and even personally recorded and sent a screen test of himself, but was never called back. He instead focused on scoring the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins (2005).

Goofs
When the killer reappears through the window he enters making a spectacular jump, even there is not enough space behind the window to execute it, as it is shown after he falls down.

Quotes
Byron McLieb: I just wanted to welcome you guys. I know it's a bit of a shock with all the hub-bub and emergency personel, but we're really a quiet building... Did I give you the storage key?

Crazy credits
Every years thousands of people come to Hollywood to pursue their dreams. Some succeed. Some move back home... And some just disappear.

Alternate versions
The US release was heavily censored to get an "R" rating rather than an "NC-17". The following scenes were edited:
The "drill kill" of the girl in the apartment was about 20-30 seconds longer, showing much more blood fly out of the back of her head, and the drill going all the way through her mouth. After the killer retracts the drill, he then begins drilling again into her head. Also, this scene is well-lit as opposed to the darkened version in the "R" rated cut.
The man getting his head sawed in half; this scene was much longer. More blood and grue flies out as the killer saws, and the aftermath of the top half of the man's head being ripped off was shown, and the camera lingers longer on it when it hits the ground.
The man being strapped to the table and killed was a bit longer. There were more hits with the hammer, more screams from the man, and a better view of the powder being poured on his head. A more grisly after-view of the man's lye-laden head was present afterward.

Connections
Featured in Top 10 Worst Top 10's (2013)

Soundtracks
California (Back To Hell)
by Shithead

User reviews121

Review

Featured review

7/10

So much better than you'd expect, given Hooper's recent track record.

Nell and Steven move into a run-down Hollywood apartment in the middle of being renovated. They soon realize that the landlord, maintenance man, and other tenants are a strange bunch. Nell finds herself delving into a mystery of the building when one of her neighbors goes missing. This is an excellent and unique slasher. Considering the last movie I saw by Hooper was about a CGI crocodile, I think it is fair to say he is back in the game. Unfortunately, there are plot holes galore that should have been worked out, the pacing is somewhat uneven, and the ending is a big let-down. But the murder scenes are nasty, the atmosphere is creepy, the set is awesome, and the jump scares are worthy. The "city of broken dreams" theme is effective even though most of the film takes place within the claustrophobia of the apartment building. The performance by Angela Bettis ("May") really anchors the movie. This lady brings a sense of dignity and classiness to the horror genre and I think she could become a real genre pioneer. All horror fans should check-out this movie.

My Rating: 7/10.