Tobe Hooper's The Funhouse

[renny]

I know this movie's not out of print anymore, but it's still not that well-known. Who's seen it? I think it falls in the middle between decent and great. It's got good characters (including the monster) and great creepy atmosphere, but it doesn't reach the terror-high of a horror classic. Still worth owning, I think.

Oh, and there's this rumor that the Dean Koontz novel by the same name was ripped off by the movie, but Koontz wrote the novel based on the movie's script before it was even shot. I don't think the book was advertised heavily as a "tie-in" novelization of the movie, so it's easy to see how people could get the wrong idea.

[Cronos]

i found the film to be quite enjoyable and fun, although some of the actors annoyed me it was mostly entertaining

7/10

[Antonio]

THE FUNHOUSE (1981) Directed by Tobe Hooper. Two young couples (Cooper Huckabee and Elizabeth Berridge, Miles Chapin and Largo Woodruff) secretly spend the night in a seedy carnival funhouse, and become targets of a crazed, disfigured madman and his father (Kevin Conway) after witnessing the murder of the resident fortune teller (Sylvia Miles). Shawn Carson (who virtually played the same character in Something Wicked This Way Comes) co-stars as Berridge’s younger brother, who is obsessed with horror films. The film’s opening sequence spoof, which introduces the siblings, is a cross between Halloween and Psycho. Conway does triple duty as three sleazy runway barkers (strip show, freak show and funhouse), the innocent Ms. Berridge makes for a fetching heroine, while director Hooper proves with this film (as with his three other greats, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Salem’s Lot and Poltergeist), that he is one of the genre’s best (although under-appreciated) filmmakers. One of many underrated horror gems of the early 80’s. My grade: B

[PackBacker]

I enjoyed it. The atmosphere was terrific. I liked the novel better but that seems to be the case 98% of the time.

[IamNoOne666]

I like the movie I agree though it's not great. I would recommended to horror fans.

[riotstarter]

I really dug this show! Thanks for the reminder, I'm adding it to my Bottom Shelf shorthand list.

[renny]

I liked how it had a running theme about tawdry horror entertainment. From the Halloween props and masks in the little brother's room to the seedy, old carnival to the funhouse itself with all its jerky yet still-terrifying animatronics. It's like, the movie knows it's not going to be perfect, but there's still an edge to it, something horrible that's hidden, like the secrects the carnies keep amongst themselves, the barker's mutant son being just one of them.

[XCoRyX]

solid flick...i definetly dug it.

[KillerKlown]

Good movie, not Hooper's best, but it's up there.

[UnpleasantDream]

I've always loved the Funhouse...I think it's great fun despite some flaws such as the blatant rip off of other horror films like the opening sequence for Halloween, psycho. frankenstein...despite that, it's a lot of fun.
going back to the Dean Koontz thing...Koontz was hired to do the novelization of the film (which was really common in that time with movie/novel tie ins). However, he was unhappy with the script so expanded on in which became the great novel...however, it was originally published under his pseudonym Owen West, and when Koontz began to gain popularity it was republished under his real name...an interesting little story...

[teenkiller]

This is one of the very first horror movies I saw back when I was first getting into horror as a child. I was probably six when I first saw this. I still enjoy it to this day and it brings back fond memories for me. I used to be creeped out by the fat laughing woman on the top of the funhouse. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[spacemonkey]

Love this movie. When you watch it you really get to absorb the carnival/funhouse atmosphere and thats where the movie succeeds the most.

Hooper revisits some of his familiar themes: disfunctional fucked up families and the messed up offspring that they bring into this world.

[HorrorIsLife]

Now I hate to say this because I'm a movie lover, but The book was SOOOO much better! More story, creepier carnival stuff, more characters too! I did read the book first so maybe that's why I'm more partial to it, but most of the time I prefer movies to the book, however in this case it's the oppisite.

If you liked the movie....you really need to read the book, It's freakin good!

[UnpleasantDream]

I agree, the book is fantastic....I read it years after watching and loving the movie and was shocked at how great the book was...wouldn't it be cool to see a new movie version that followed the book's plot...that's a much better idea than half the lame remakes they're doing now

[HorrorIsLife]

I would pay good money to see them make a movie that follows the book! The book is awesome!

[ERIN_LoJ]

I agree that it's good but not memorable. The atmosphere stands out the most as just disturbingly twisted, good direction there - and villains are ferocious enough

[riotstarter]

I just used this show in Bottom Shelf, so thanks for the reminder.

[chinton]

Is the book by Dran Koontz. I couldnt finish it but then again Im not a huge Koontz fan.

As far as the movie it was fine and better than the book.

6/10

[slasherfan]

Originally posted by chinton
Is the book by Dran Koontz. I couldnt finish it but then again Im not a huge Koontz fan.

As far as the movie it was fine and better than the book.

6/10
Are you kidding, I thought the book was excellent!