M.D.C. - Maschera di cera (1997)

Director:

Sergio Stivaletti

Writers:

Dario Argento (story)
Lucio Fulci (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 1997 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Paris, 1900: a couple are horribly murdered by a masked man with a metal claw who rips their hearts out...

Plot Keywords:

Mask | Blood | Dead Child | Fire | Hypodermic Needle

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Hossein	...	Boris Volkoff
Romina Mondello	...	Sonia Lafont
Riccardo Serventi Longhi	...	Andrea Conversi
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Aunt Francesca
Umberto Balli	...	Alex
Valery Valmond	...	Giorgina
Gianni Franco	...	Inspector Palazzi
Antonello Murru	...	Museum Caretaker
Daniele Auber	...	Luca
Romano Iannelli	...	Pathologist
Rosa Pianeta	...	Anna's Mother
Sonia Topazio	...	Nurse
Massimo Vanni	...	Victor
Aldo Massasso	...	Inspector Lanvin
Sabrina Pellegrino	...	Elena

Also Known As:

Gaston Leroux's The Wax Mask
Masque de cire, Le (France) (video title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | Italy:VM18 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Singapore:R(A) | Spain:18 | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:Unrated | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Mediaset

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tre volti del terrore, I (2004)

Soundtrack:

La donna è mobile

From Fulci, to Stivaletti, a most-entertaining ride!

This is a sorely-overlooked film that began as a project for the ailing Lucio Fulci (who died at the 11th-hour), and ended-up being the first film for Italian makeup-maestro, Sergio Stivaletti. While it is often daft, it is also so audacious and original in its reimagining of "House of Wax" that it inexplicably overcomes any of its weaknesses. Produced-by Dario Argento (as well as co-scripted in some areas), this alchemical-horror succeeds where the recent Hollywood-remake fails, and all on a $3 million-budget! That's catering for the recent "House of Wax", right? Its only major-downside--a minor one--is that Paris Hilton's murder isn't depicted here, which accounts for half the box-office of that version.

It is difficult not to be won-over by the visual purity of this film, even with the problems of plot (common to Italian cinema, though much of this is explained-by a an emphasis on the "thematic"), and it is very-very entertaining and fantastical. One would assume that the alchemical-themes in the story were Argento's contributions, however, English horror-cineaste Alan Jones has written they are Stivaletti's, which is pretty amazing. For those who are familiar with the makeup-artisan's work in films by Argento, Soavi, and Lamberto Bava, you are in for a treat.

While this film is definitely flawed, it succeeds in being a great romp for action, mystery, and naturally, gore. From a hardcore heart-ripping by mechanical-hands, to melting-cadavers, it is an original-contribution to bodily-defilement by the director and his makeup crew. With obvious expositions on nanotechnology and cybernetics, I was pretty creeped-out. Maybe it was me, but I thought a lot of the film had elements of the French silent serials like "Judex", or even "Les Vampiers". There are--of course--scenes that will make most Anglo-American audiences cringe, and you'll know them when you see them, but you knew you were watching an Italian genre-film, no?

Yet, it is so very classical in its combination of Gaston Leroux and Jules Verne! One-remaining Fulci-subplot remains--it concerns a doppleganger of a main-character, and is oddly resonant with Stivaletti's-contributions. The familiar-theme of the misunderstood-genius, and the brutality of the human-condition creating monsters reminds one of Captain Nemo, or the Phantom of the Opera. But what this films really reminds-me-of is that many great Italian-filmmakers understand there is no line-between "high" and "low" art. This is often lost on us in North America, but it is common in mainland European culture. The alchemical themes are great too. Lucio Fulci, RIP.