House Of Wax but with a dork giving it the backstory and lore it deserves

Full disclosure, the title is a work in progress.

Watching House Of Wax, I couldn't help but be disappointed with how little attention the story of the town and antagonistic characters were given. It was the mid 2000s, the golden age of substanceless slashers, but I think there has always been a lot of potential for the little corner of worldbuilding the writers built to be fleshed out in a more story attentive way, in a way that does the thought put into it some justice. I also, if you could not tell from my reads, am a sucker for some '00s slasher fanfiction romance. So here I am, attempting to tackle both, while weaving in an attempt at a properly fleshed out romantic interest.

Taking place in a cannon-adjecent derivative, an former resident of Amberose and friend to its last remaining tenants returns in a state of financial desperation. Growing up in the heart of the bible belt in the 70s and 80s, our hero(?) has a history of trauma and harmful vices fit to match the brothers...maybe spare the murder and wax coating of people. Together the brothers and their newly returned friend will discover firsthand just how many flaws an old friendship and lack of other options can actually cover. From tearjerking reunins between two emotionally stunted adults, to awkward dancing around romance, an equally unhealthy woman to drunkenly argue and then make out with everyone's facorite gas station menace, to moral dillemmas and ethical angst to the smut everyone actually came here for, this story will have it all.

This story will explore themes of murder (duh), addiction, self harm, trauma, in a way I find realistic to the existing setting. Also props to those who catch the occasional little nods to the original House Of Wax films that inspired this adaptation.