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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Roasted over the coals for its alleged misogynistic overtones and all but chased out of the UK upon its initial video release, The Toolbox Murders makes a belated return appearance on video and its first appearance on DVD. Toolbox Murders notoriety rests entirely on its opening moments as Ski- Masked Psycho Cameron Mitchell murders a succession of women with the contents of the titular Toolbox. Grand Guignol is taken to almost farcical levels as woman upon woman stumble upon the
killer and meet their fate. By the time Mitchell advances on his final victim of the evening with a drill theres barely enough room to move for all the dead bodies. After this shocking opening precariously little else really happens, Mitchell ranting insanities kidnaps a girl who he believes to be his daughter, splitting the rest of the narrative between the not so interesting attempts by the girl's brother to find her, and the girl's own attempts to escape. Toolbox has its moments such as Mitchell's legendary rendition of "Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child" but the film rarely peaks after its opening bloodbath. This DVD version does a good job in preserving perhaps the films finest feature, its camerawork by Orson Welles collaborator Gary Graver, but censor cuts of over 2 minutes rob the film of the reasons for all the hype. Sad to say that remove the opening half hour of the film and the Toolbox Murders could easily play on afternoon TV, hardly a fitting eulogy for a formally red-blooded video nasty.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Vipco pull through again by releasing this 1978 classic which has been unavailable since the great 'Video Nasty' scare of 1983. The film, dealing with a samauri who goes on a rampage in America, has not aged a bit and is still as shocking as it ever was. People get killed with all sorts of 'toolbox' appliances, hence the title. There is castration when a man urinates on the killers feet unknowingly, there are nail-gun murders, and a whole host of other nasty killings which have not been cut by the ever-sharp blade of the censor. Definatly not for the weak-of-heart, the film was one of the only 'Splatter' movies to be discussed in detail upon its release on a late-night talk show. The audience were shown the nail-gun murder, and groaned at disgust. Buy this movie now and you will not regret it! Great story, lovingly detailed kills, and previously banned as a bonus. Support Vipco - they are one of the best horror labels around, and have been operating since 1979, a year after this film was originally released.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
In the early 2000's I set myself a task to see as many if not all of the DPPs final 39 list of video nasties I could, not for any other reason than just to say I had seen them all. Some were watched and put to the back of my DVD cupboard never to see the light of day again while others were straight back on Amazon marketplace and resold but there are a rare few have become firm favourites and although I feel slightly embarrassed to say it-favourite films I return to again and again. Well The Toolbox Murders falls into the latter category and despite its low budget, odd pacing and draggy middle I love the atmosphere and dare I say it, the gore not to mention the sight of Cameron Mitchell who played Buck Cannon from The High Chaparral chasing girls around an apartment block whilst wearing a ski mask and brandishing an array of DIY tools.
I won't go into detail of the plot of The Toolbow Murders though as if your reading this review there is a good chance you are already fully aware of what this particular slice of low budget American exploitation has to offer so I will get down to the nitty-gritty and head straight to how this new Blu-Ray release from film restoration experts Blue Underground compares to their already fantastic standard definintion DVD from way back in 2003.
Simply put the picture transfer is superb. The standard def release was always a stunner even back in 2003 and improved 100% on the cut fullframe DVD available here in the UK, but this new 1080p high definintion release takes this a step farther. The contrast and level of detail are grately improved with certain scenes popping out at the viewer and background scenes that were slightly obscured on the DVD now sharp and clear.... Read more ›
I won't go into detail of the plot of The Toolbow Murders though as if your reading this review there is a good chance you are already fully aware of what this particular slice of low budget American exploitation has to offer so I will get down to the nitty-gritty and head straight to how this new Blu-Ray release from film restoration experts Blue Underground compares to their already fantastic standard definintion DVD from way back in 2003.
Simply put the picture transfer is superb. The standard def release was always a stunner even back in 2003 and improved 100% on the cut fullframe DVD available here in the UK, but this new 1080p high definintion release takes this a step farther. The contrast and level of detail are grately improved with certain scenes popping out at the viewer and background scenes that were slightly obscured on the DVD now sharp and clear.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jim Piper
Format:DVD
I can only assume the reason this film was banned was because of police embarrassment or as respect to the real life victims. Brief glimpses of a masked madman with various drill attachements setting about murdering the neighbours in a quiet suburban area then kidnapping the daughter of one of the deceased should lead to a mass murder hunt. In this case one detective was deemed to be enough.
The clues: The killer only had to forcefully enter the home of one of the three victims. The kidnapped girl bore an uncanny resemblance to the tragically lost daughter of the properties owner. The owner & his nephew were carrying out repairs to their properties at the time. The nephew was provided with a huge toolbox to carry out these repairs.
The faults: Cameron Mitchell [Uncle Buck] spilt more blood in the High Chaparral but sang just as badly. When the brother of the kidnapped girl suggested that the killer may have a key to the properties & could indeed be the owner our lone detective fell about laughing.
To sum up: The fact that the story is based on true events makes you feel less disappointed. As a docu-drama it is passable. As a horror film if this scares you i expect black & white Mummy/Werewolf presentations have the same effect. I am in the Excalibur/Alien lover class [but Disney's Big Red had me wailing] and love the modern cinema's gruesome effects. So sadly if you are like me & love being scared don't bother with this tame effort but if you don't like sleeping in the dark it's not for you either.
A definite MISS that should have been left undisturbed. JimP
The clues: The killer only had to forcefully enter the home of one of the three victims. The kidnapped girl bore an uncanny resemblance to the tragically lost daughter of the properties owner. The owner & his nephew were carrying out repairs to their properties at the time. The nephew was provided with a huge toolbox to carry out these repairs.
The faults: Cameron Mitchell [Uncle Buck] spilt more blood in the High Chaparral but sang just as badly. When the brother of the kidnapped girl suggested that the killer may have a key to the properties & could indeed be the owner our lone detective fell about laughing.
To sum up: The fact that the story is based on true events makes you feel less disappointed. As a docu-drama it is passable. As a horror film if this scares you i expect black & white Mummy/Werewolf presentations have the same effect. I am in the Excalibur/Alien lover class [but Disney's Big Red had me wailing] and love the modern cinema's gruesome effects. So sadly if you are like me & love being scared don't bother with this tame effort but if you don't like sleeping in the dark it's not for you either.
A definite MISS that should have been left undisturbed. JimP
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Toolbox Murders
Quite possibly the worst movie i have ever seen.
Do not order this movie at any cost, whatever your interest in any of the stars or its director. Read more
Do not order this movie at any cost, whatever your interest in any of the stars or its director. Read more
Published 11 months ago by trustmaxx
2.0 out of 5 stars
Really poor movie
I bought this DVD on the strength of its reputation as a classic, gory slasher. After watching it I can tell you it is not a classic, and it certainly is not gory. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2011 by Gareth O'Flaherty
4.0 out of 5 stars
WEIRD
not a bad slasher - bit of a weird ending though.
not a bad film o get on the cheap - better than the remake which is nothing like this
not a bad film o get on the cheap - better than the remake which is nothing like this
Published on 23 Jun 2009 by J. M. Nuttall
3.0 out of 5 stars
CHIZEL, HAMMER, NAILGUN, DRILL !! !! !! !! !!
The Tool Box Murders was a hard film to review, i love the films in Vipcos Vault of Horror and this was the film that got me into them! Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2006 by M. Western
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