The Funhouse (1981)

Two couples on a double date spend their evening at the local carnival, against the main character's father's wishes. Rumor was circulating that kids in another county were killed at that carnival in the past. But they ignore the father, craft a really thin lie (the old "sleeping at a friend's house" routine), and go anyway. And then comes the big idea: stay overnight in the funhouse. This plan goes fine until the kids witness a fortune teller slash prostitute get murdered by the man in the Pat Sajak mask.

Tobe Hooper, the director, is a big name in horror. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist" are modern classics. I don't claim to be an expert on Hooper -- I've seen only a handful of his work -- but I would rank this near the top of the list. I have read other reviews calling this film, without hesitation, Hooper's best work, and I think they make a strong case. While the least known of the big three Hooper films, it has a timelessness to it that will strike terror in people's hearts forever.

Carnivals are scary. From "Carnival of Souls" to the more recent "Dark Ride", the background of a circus can be chilling. Throw in some clowns, carnival barkers and automated robots (dolls that move) and you have the perfect set-up. You don't really need a masked killer to heighten the fear, but Hooper throws one in anyway. If nothing else can be said about this movie, you can say the perfect atmosphere was created for winning film.

Beyond that, we have the same old horror standards. Teenagers making out, smoking pot and being stupid. We have a main character -- Amy Harper (Elizabeth Berridge) -- who is quite sexy, although her taste in men needs some adjustment (I'm sorry, but I thought Buzz Klemmet (Cooper Huckabee) was a jerk). And getting busy on the first date after not hitting it off well? Believable for some reason. Unlike her female co-star (Largo Woodruff), they find ways to get her topless multiple times in the film. I'm not complaining, but the real mystery is this: why didn't we see her in more 1980s films? I think the defining moment for this movie is when the mask is removed from the killer. I won't reveal anything that will spoil it, but I have to say that the man under the mask was quite the shocker for this first-time viewer. You think you know, but you have no idea.

Absolutely see "The Funhouse". 1970s and 1980s horror is a defining era for the genre, and this film sits right near the top of some of the best works. Possibly eclipsing "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and comfortably resting with "Halloween" (a film this one pays homage to in the opening scene), Hooper has made a name for himself. More recent contributions -- such as "The Damned Thing" -- are lacking, but classics like "The Funhouse" will guarantee him a slot in the Horror Movie Hall of Fame, if such a thing existed.

Fmovies: "The Funhouse" is based on a screenplay by Larry Block and Dean Koontz's "The Funhouse" novel was written and released as a tie-in with Tobe Hooper's movie,under the pseudonym of Owen West.The story moves around a group of teenagers who decide to break into a carnival funhouse and spend the night there for a bit of fun.Soon they're stalked by a ghastly freak from the carnival."The Funhouse" is no "Texas Chain Saw Massacre"(1974)or even "Eaten Alive"(1976-check out my review of it!),but Tobe Hooper really creates some thrills and a good deal of suspense.The film probably ended up on a video nasties list by mistake,as it may have been confused with "Last House on Dead End Street"(1977)which was also known as "The Fun House".So if you like horror genre-check out this quite sleazy and occasionally very scary film.

Group of teenagers double date and get the idea of spending the night in a carnival funhouse for a lark. They get more then they bargained for however when they witness the murder of a psychic at the hands of a freak. Richly colored, nicely mounted flick has effective jump scenes, terrifying special effects and a good cast full of oddballs. One of Tobe Hooper's better horror films.

Rated R; Violence, Nudity, and Profanity.

The Funhouse fmovies. This was better than it should have been, considering most of the actors are unknowns and the film has a Grade B feel to it throughout. It gets good points for two things: the story moved fast and the cinematography was good. I like stylish-looking visuals, which is what you get here.

Teenage punks usually turn me off but these guys - with one exception - were tolerable. The language was bad, but much of it came in bunches by just two of the guys.

Overall, a surprisingly--decent horror film which is colorful and has its atmospheric merits. Is is super scary? No, but it's a fun-house and fun to watch.

The Funhouse is one of my absolute favorite horror movies of the 1980s. That being said, I consider the 1980s the grandest time for the horror genre. You had fine slasher movies like Friday the 13th, Nightmare On Elm Street, My Bloody Valentine, and Prom Night. You also had great monster/ghost/zombie movies like The Howling, Day of the Dead, and The Fog. Well, the Funhouse falls right in the middle of the these subgenres. The story centers around Amy and her three friends (two guys and a girl), who, after seeing all the ghoulish and bizarre attractions at the carnival, decide to have a "lock-in" at the Funhouse for a night of hanky-panky. Well, a "lock-in" they get, followed by a night of sheer terror as the foursome witness a murder by the carnival's secret attraction, the hideously deformed freak, and become the target of the Funhouse's maniacal operators. Who will survive? Will any survive? And what kind of trauma will they have to endure? For those that are into blood and guts, this movie will probably not do it for you, because it doesn't contain much. But for those of you who love a great horror movie with suspense, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and a grainy touch, this chiller is for you. I personally give it my highest recommendation. I truly believe that it is a forgotten classic. After all, it was Tobe Hooper, of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist fame, who helmed this gem. Even the tagline for this movie was perfect: "Pay to get in. PRAY to get out." And thank God that J.D. Roth wasn't in this film.

The teenager Amy Harper (Elizabeth Berridge) dates Buzz Dawson (Cooper Huckabee) for the first time and they go to the carnival with their friends Richie (Miles Chapin) and Liz (Largo Woodruff). They smoke grass and have good-time visiting the attractions including a side show with freak animals. The silly Richie suggests the group to spend the night in the Funhouse for fun. During the night, they witness the murder of the fortune teller Madame Zena (Sylvia Miles) by a man wearing a mask of Frankenstein from an opening in the ceiling of a room. They decide to leave the fun house but they find all the exits locked. Meanwhile Richie sneaks in the room and steals the money of the manager of the place. The masked man returns with his father and owner of the fun house to show the corpse of Madame Zena; when the man realizes that he had been robbed, he presses his son that removes the mask and shows his horrible face. Richie startles and drops his lighter in the room. The owner asks his freak son to chase the thieves and eyewitnesses in a night of terror for the teenagers.

"Funhouse" is a good low-budget slash movie and as usual based on the stupidity of a group of teenagers, especially Richie that is an irritating character. The cast is formed by unknown actors and actresses and Miles Chapin seems to be repeating his performance in "Hair" with another imbecile character. Tobe Hooper uses the entertainments in the fun house to keep a creepy atmosphere, but the movie could be shorter. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Pague para Entrar, Reze para Sair" ("Pay to Get In, Pray to Get Out")

Note: On 02 April 2015, I saw this movie again.