Tobe Hooper’s remake of “The Toolbox Murders” is yet another one of those remakes that has nothing really to do with the original film other than the killer has a fettish for power tools.

Director Tobe Hooper’s gory “retooling” of the late ’70s chiller centers on a young couple (Angela Bettis and Brent Roam) who move into an old run-down L.A. apartment complex, only to find out that the structure is under the influence of an evil supernatural force that uses all manner of home improvement equipment to commit a grisly massacre.

I liked this movie a lot. It’s not the greatest horror movie ever made, but it far surpasses what is being churned out by the Hollywood cookie cutter. “Toolbox Murders” delivers all the gritty chills and violence that movies like “Hostel” and “Saw” promise and then never deliver. Hooper uses a nice creepy locale (the now demolished Ambassador Hotel) and a lot of visual misdirection for some really cheap thrills. Also on tap, are quite a few messy deaths involving the aforementioned power tools. The cast is very solid, led by a really solid performance by Angela Bettis. Sheri Moon even pops up in a nice bit part and is actually quite good (not so over-the-top like her performances in Rob Zombie’s two films). My major complaint would be the “supernatural” aspect of the film. I can get behind that the Lusman Arms was built with Satanism and evil in mind. It would have been more interesting if the “supernatural” aspects had been more misdirection rather than the final explanation for the killer and his wicked ways. ‘Cause I don’t like that you never find out just why a supernatural being would have a power tool fettish. That makes it kinda silly … until he saws the top of someone’s head off with a hand-held circular saw. Now that, I like!

Bottom Line:
Somewhat flawed but definately worth checking out.