Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

This had to be one of the worst so-called slasher flicks ever made. The acting was non-existent, it wasn't scary in the least (except maybe to a 6-year-old), and the four "victims" were so stupid and/or useless (your boyfriend's in a fight with another guy who was planning on killing you, so what do you do? Don't try to help; oh, no. Just stand there and scream like an idiot)you almost wanted tehmall to die. A waste of almost 2 hours and God knows how many brain cells...

I put off seeing The Funhouse for the longest time because I thought it would just be another run of the mill 80's slasher with a carnival theme. I was wrong. The Funhouse actually turned out to be a very fun movie for me. This is the kind of horror flick that would appeal to the viewer that looks for things such as creepy set pieces and props, eerie scenery, and unsettling atmosphere. If you're in it for the gore and storyline you might walk away from this one unsatisfied. But that's why I enjoy horror so much. In my opinion there's various factors that can make a horror film great, and while one movie rarely succeeds at all of these factors, there's many that really nail certain ones, and this is one of them.

In short, two young couples head off to the carnival and decide that it would be fun to stay the night inside the funhouse after the carnival has closed. After they unintentionally witness a murder looking through the floor boards of the funhouse, they decide that the fun is over and attempt to make an escape. However the greedy actions of one of the boys leaves them all locked inside the elaborate funhouse with a blood-thirsty freak of nature out to get them.

The hostility displayed by the carnival folk is another aspect that really aids in adding a lot of tension to the movie as they are portrayed here as dirty, mean spirited, and lacking in morals. They refer to themselves as their own kind, and bitterly look upon the "locals" as outsiders that have no human value beyond how much money they have to spend at the carnival. Once again it is worth mentioning the awesomely creepy carnival props including dummies, clowns, and mannequins adorned in lights of all colors. (Not to mention there is something disurbing about waching that lanky freak staggering around in that Frankenstein mask!) The movie uses all this together to make a simple carnival seem like a strange and frightening new world.

Overall it isn't Tobe Hooper's shining moment, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and at any rate, it's a solid piece of good old 80's horror, which I'm always up for. Check this one out.