Nitzan Havoc As a horror-freak spectator, I must say I did not enjoy this film as much as I'd hoped I would.Angela Bettis was the best part for me. I loved her in all her previous parts in Girl Interrupted, May and Carrie, and find her an excellent actress, way underrated. In this film, we got to see her playing a different role, rather than the disturbed neurotic she usually plays. She did so beautifully, and I hope directors learn to appreciate her as she deserves!The characters were also great. Realistic, original, varied and convincing. I found myself curious and compelled by each of their stories, and wanting to know more about them.Unfortunately - that was it. The main story wasn't all that interesting, too many questions left unasked rather than unanswered. Not enough explanations about the supernatural aspect, and not at all enough information about the killer. Speaking of the killer - he wasn't all that scary, not at all. As for surprising twists? If there were any, I missed them. The ending was unclear, and anticlimactic. For me - the second I have to use that term (anticlimactic) to describe the ending of a horror film, it means it wasn't that good.I didn't actually see the original film, and at first didn't even know this was a remake. However, I've seen my share of slasher-horror films, and this one certainly isn't one of the best. I've seen some very positive reviews for this film, and I admit to failing to understand why. A matter of taste I guess.Can't really recommend this film with a clean conscience, unless you're a fan of the original one, or of Angela Bettis.

Michael_Elliott Toolbox Murders (2004) * 1/2 (out of 4) Remake of the 1970's cult classic has director Tobe Hooper trying to recapture his golden days but failing due to a horrible script that borrows loosely from the original but doesn't improve anything. There's plenty of gore to go around but the main character is way too annoying. I was really hoping Hooper would get his act together but sadly we'll have to wait for his next film, which we've been saying for the past two decades. The 1978 version isn't much better but it at least has a certain charm to it.

nb2 This was a dull little film to me. The atmosphere was good and the claustrophobia of the Lusman Arms building was really good but the acting was so weak and the characters neither charismatic nor intimidating. None of them is likable with the exception of the excellent Angela Bettis who took this thing and carried it across the finish line. I certainly could not have stood watching this to the end without her sensitive, intelligent and interesting acting. She gives the very real and convincing performance of a truly gifted actor and I look forward to enjoying more of her work. Her turn in this movie is close to being on a par with her brilliant "MAY". Sadly, no nudity, no underwear...........not even a glimpse!

Paul Andrews Toolbox Murders is set in a Los Angeles apartment complex called the Lusman Arms where a young doctor named Steven Barrows (Brent Roam) & his wife Nell (Angela Bettis) move in, it's not exactly five star accommodation but what can you do when your on a budget? It's currently undergoing lots of renovation & so there are lots of tools lying around, some of the Barrows neighbours are a little strange too, however Nell befriends Julia (Juliet Landau) whom seems pretty normal by comparison. When Julia mysteriously disappears Nell becomes worried & feels something is not right, Nell investigates the origins of the hotel & discovers a sinister past. Nell also discovers a vicious killer & she becomes his next target...Directed by Tobe Hooper I thought Toolbox Murders was an average horror film & nowhere near as good as the original The Toolbox Murders (1978) which this remake has virtually nothing in common with besides the attention grabbing title. The script by Jace Anderson & Adam Gierasch has an identity crisis, it can't decide whether it wants to be a straight forward gory Friday the 13th (1980) slasher or a more mystery orientated who dun-nit like Scream (1996) & frankly it disappoints on both fronts. For those looking for blood, gore & death you would be best advised to watch the original & those seeking a good mystery should watch something like I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), there is definitely better out there. The film is a mish-mash of ideas that don't quite gel together including some supernatural elements that strangely go nowhere, the killer himself also disappoints. Again this remake differs in this respect with a completely different killer & their motives & identity are nothing like the original, in this film he is just some deformed freak who just 'is', nothing more nothing less & that's what it boils down too. This is nothing more than a basic slasher with some out-of-place mystery elements that are almost irrelevant. Having said that it's an OK watch with a few decent moments here & there but overall it's nothing to get that excited about.Director Hooper does OK, I felt the film was a bit flat looking & could have used a bit more visual flair & a bit more style especially considering that such an experienced filmmaker like Hooper was behind the camera. The climax is quite well done though with plenty of rotten corpses strewn around & these scenes have a The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) feel about them. The gore is tame & the body count low, someone has their head bashed in with a hammer, someone has a drill shoved through their head, someone gets pumped full of nails when the killer uses a nail-gun on her, someone has their face burned off with acid & someone has the top of their head cut off, it sounds gory & exploitative but it's pretty bloodless & stretched out at nearly 100 minutes isn't enough.Technically Toolbox Murders is alright, it's generally well made with decent production values but there's nothing particularly special on show here. The acting is OK but again nothing special.Toolbox Murders is an average slasher with a hint of mystery which comes to nothing, I can't say I particularly liked it but at the same time I can't say I particularly hated it. Average at best & nowhere near as good or as exploitative as the sleazy original.