Review of The Funhouse (1981) by David. B — 31 Jan 2008

I instantly thought of Halloween and Psycho when I started watching this. Not that it was a bad thing, but come on. From the POV shot to the brother and sister set up(Halloween) I just new Mr Hooper was out to either cash in on the slasher hysteria or what I was hoping for try something a little different compared to his previous films Eaten Alive and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Going with the later he still resorts to the chaotic family as the killers(it makes me wonder what kind of upbringing this bloke had?), but places them in a traditional slasher story set at a carnival with a really cool Funhouse set. A lot of money was spent by Tobe to be able to use such a great set. The carnival was set up just for this film as it wasn't the carny season when the film was being made. I found the set to be actually scarier compared to the one used in Craig Singer's Dark Ride(2006), which was also a very good slasher film. Elizabeth Berridge looked a little young in some shots, but then she was only young. I became to like her more and more as the film unfolded and found that she has a great scream on her. I actually now believe that she inspired the casting choice for Holly Marie Combs in Dr Giggles, which later influenced the casting choice of Nev Campbell in Scream.hehe.I doubt that, but there are huge similarities in their looks. The colour scheme used by Tobe was really good too. It's not up there with say Dario's work in Susperia, but very close to it.

Funhouse isn't a masterpiece nor is it bad. I really wanted to get more scared as the Funhouse looked scary and would be in real time, but I think it was due to the performances of the two madmen and the dialogue given to them where it failed to build suspense. The gore was a let down too. All we get is an axe in the skull, a hanging, strangulation, a body crushing and a few other non creative ways of dying. But I think this is where Tobe won though. The film basically revolves around only 4 teen characters and because of that we become to like them and cheer for them as they become stalked in the Funhouse after deciding to spend the night smoking and making love in it. That is a genuinely scary set up as funhouses are kinda scary, but nothing is more scary than a carny. We all know they are stereotyped as being outcast's and freaks and the script definitely portrays that. There is a macabre feel all around the carnival and a distinct sleaziness which is found within the dialogue. That all adds to the overall atmosphere of the film making this a very entertaining and at time scary slasher flick. People who like odd-ball slasher films with the occasional jump-out-of-your-seat scare will find this a real treat.