Funhouse...your thoughts?

[psychopath]

I thought the "Funhouse" was a breath of fresh air,i enjoyed it quite well. Some of it kicked ass!~

[SteveSzyk]

I loved Funhouse. ****1/2 out of *****

[AntonioDelLago]

THE FUNHOUSE (1981) Directed by Tobe Hooper. Four teens (Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff and Miles Chapin) secretly spend the night in a seedy carnival funhouse, and become targets of a crazed, disfigured madman and his father (Kevin Conway) after witnessing a murder. Shawn Carson co-stars as Berridge's younger brother (who is obsessed with horror films). The film's opening sequence spoof, which introduces the siblings, is reminiscent of both PSYCHO and HALLOWEEN. Conway does triple duty as three sleazy runway barkers. Hooper proves with this film (as in his three other greats, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, SALEM'S LOT and POLTERGEIST), that he is one of the genre's best filmmakers. One of the underrated horror gems of the early 80's. My grade: B

[This message has been edited by AntonioDelLago (edited 05-29-2001).]

[CAPTAIN BLAKE]

An atmospheric gem that was perhaps a little too similar to all the other slasher stuff to stand out at the time of it's release. This is superior to almost any of those, very tense and claustrophobic. The initial credits sequence is almost as creepy as the one in HOOPER's other classic, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.

[psycho path]

Thought Id bring up the topic cuz I love this movie!

[Boogeyman]

i thought it was pretty awesome. but the killer, i didnt like very much. i dunno why but if they had had a different killer it would have been one of my favorites!

later

[teenkiller]

Great movie. I love the atmosphere and the villain is super cool. Not a high body count but this film didn't need it. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[izombie]

Sending this over to PAST HORROR.

[Jewbo]

loved it. i thought the main girl was one of the hotest girls i have ever seen in my life. god she looked good in that blue top but even better naked lol. my mum taped over my copie of the film tho damn her. i shouldnt damn her really it her birthday 2day. evey1 say happy birthday 2 my mum.

how did i get from hot naked girl 2 my mum? eeeeewwwwwwww.

[teenkiller]

Happy birthday to Mrs. Jewbo. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[ominous_oat]

Happy birthday Jewbo's mom!

[teenkiller]

Funhouse deserves more recognition. How many horror films have the cool carnival setting? This is another horror movie that seems to have been lost in the sea of early 80's slasher films. Hooper does a pretty good job with this. Its no TCM but its still rather enjoyable. I used to have a strange attraction to the laughing fat woman on top of the funhouse when I was like 6. She was weird and creepy but worked well. Another of the horror films that I question why it never had a sequel, along with Hell Night, Slaughter High, and My Bloody Valentine. Heres hoping to a dvd, as always. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

funhouse is available on DVD teenkiller,if thats what you meant by saying heres hoping.

[teenkiller]

Well thats good news then, not that I have been able to find it anywhere but I'll keep an eye out. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[The Claw]

It was a semi cool movie I guess. The villian was pretty cool though.

[teenkiller]

Although they never said it in the movie I believe I heard somewhere on this board that the villains name was actually Gunther. And yeah he was pretty cool. He had sort of that Andrew Garth feel to him whom I also liked. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

teenkiller,the suncoast in franklin mills has a copy or 2 in of funhouse,for $9.99 too i believe....

[teenkiller]

That is a damn good deal. Too bad that Franklin Mills is a long ways out of my way. Perhaps I'll check the place out eventually though. Thanks for the heads up anyways. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

SEPTA easily gets you there,they have a nice selection,but i think there a bit too pricey.

[spacemonkey]

http://static.redjupiter.com/images/tartorres/funhouse.jpg

Whoa! Just bought this flick without having seen it! I only bought it cause it had a decent cover and the premise sounded cool and it had a cool looking cover with that spooky looking clown with its ax.. Plus it was directed by Tobe Hooper whos done some decent horror flick weve all come to love. Anyway, Its a decent flick. Fun and enjoyable, with its cool homages to horror movies of old. I liked how the girls room was filled with posters of old horror movies like frankenstein and the wolfman. And how the little brother went stalking his sister to the bathroom, that scene was a wink at psycho obviously.

We need more horror movies with Carnival like settings. They are just so spooky! I like how all through the movie we see these spooky carnival ride things, like fat ladies and skeletons popping out of nowhere.

The mutant creature that follows them around was preatty cool looking, thanks to Rick Bakers make up work. The movies fun, and surprised me in some scenes, like the ax scene! Shit!

One thing I didnt get though, the little brother character, what the hell was he there for? His character didnt make sense to me..Was he there only so that his sister "could get back at him" for what he did to her? I didnt get him, what was his porpoise in the film? If at least hed done something to help his sister, but no, he just hung around the carnival till he got caught. What?

Anyhows. Im glad I bought this Tobe Hooper flick, though its not "blow me out of the water" impressive, it was a fun ride. get it? fun ride? Oh never mind...:D

[XCoRyX]

i get it spacemonkey,i get it....nonetheless i was determined to buy this last time i went to suncoast but they must have sold their copy(s).Bummer.

[spacemonkey]

I bought it at suncoast too, for a measly 9.99. I took a chance wich is something Ive been doing lately, I also bought The Beyond this way, and boy, I gotta say I wasnt let down with that one either. :D

[Jason13thh]

I own it but I did not like it a lot and I am a slasher/giallo fan.
Sure the atmosphere and the photography is really good but I don't know the film was a bit boring and did not work very well to me.
The way the " heroine " ( which is beautiful by the way ) kills the monster is more than lucky and a bit clumsy.
I would give 6/10 but not more.

[spacemonkey]

Originally posted by Jason13thh
I own it but I did not like it a lot and I am a slasher/giallo fan.
Sure the atmosphere and the photography is really good but I don't know the film was a bit boring and did not work very well to me.
The way the " heroine " ( which is beautiful by the way ) kills the monster is more than lucky and a bit clumsy.
I would give 6/10 but not more.

I know what you mean Jason 13th, the film is slow, but if you pay good attention youll see how Tobe Hooper sort of just wants to show what a god damn spooky place the carnival can be.

"These are all creatures of god...not man! And they are all alive! Alive!"

I in fact I found the carnies weirder then the monster it self.

You guys notice how the film had a message about child abuse?

Its an ok movie, I know, not great or anything, but I just like to look for the good stuff in movies like this.