Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- nasty
- voyeuristic
- gruesome
- late night horror marathon
- video nasty retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as misogynistic, voyeuristic, poorly characterized, and excessively violent, though some genre reviewers valued its gruesome set pieces and shift into psychological thriller territory.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The killer uses drills, hammers, and other toolbox implements in brutal apartment murders framed as sensational exploitation.
The killer's persecution of allegedly sinful women is linked to religious extremism and personal grief.
Most of the murders, disappearances, and investigation unfold inside a Los Angeles apartment complex.
The first half emphasizes serial tool killings, while the latter portion develops a more unsettling psychological-thriller mode.
Films like The Toolbox Murders, and why
Halloween
early slasher structure, apartment-building murders, graphic violence, and voyeuristic exploitation tone
The Slumber Party Massacre
low-budget exploitation horror, sexualized victimization, and escalating killer brutality
Maniac
urban serial-killer mystery, disturbing violence, and psychological horror elements
The Last House on the Left
rape and revenge exploitation, graphic violence, and confrontational treatment of gendered victimization
Movie Details
- Director
- Dennis Donnelly
- Release Date
- 1978-03-03
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (123)
Cast
- Cameron Mitchell
- Pamelyn Ferdin
- Wesley Eure
- Aneta Corsaut
- Nicolas Beauvy
- Tim Donnelly
- Faith McSwain
- Marciee Drake
- Evelyn Guerrero
- Kelly Nichols
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Toolbox Murders about?
- A notorious apartment-complex slasher turns everyday tools into instruments of religiously charged murder and psychological dread.
- What is The Toolbox Murders like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Toolbox Murders as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Toolbox Murders violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Toolbox Murders as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Toolbox Murders?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as misogynistic, voyeuristic, poorly characterized, and excessively violent, though some genre reviewers valued its gruesome set pieces and shift into psychological thriller territory.
- Which films are like The Toolbox Murders?
- Films with a similar feel include Halloween, The Slumber Party Massacre, Maniac, and The Last House on the Left.
- How long is The Toolbox Murders?
- The Toolbox Murders runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Toolbox Murders?
- In United States, The Toolbox Murders streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Night Flight Plus, Screambox Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel.
