The Funhouse (1981)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writer:

Lawrence Block (writer)

Release Date:

13 March 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Something is alive in the funhouse...something that, tonight, will turn the funhouse into a carnival of terror!

Plot:

Four teenage friends spent the night in a carnival funhouse and are stalked by a deformed man in a frankenstein mask.

Plot Keywords:

Funhouse | Night | Carnival | Murder | Deformed Man

Cast

Elizabeth Berridge	...	Amy Harper
Shawn Carson	...	Joey Harper
Jeanne Austin	...	Mrs. Harper
Jack McDermott	...	Mr. Harper
Cooper Huckabee	...	Buzz Dawson
Largo Woodruff	...	Liz
Miles Chapin	...	Richie
David Carson	...	Geek (as D. Lee Carson)
Sonia Zomina	...	Bag Lady
Ralph Morino	...	Truck Driver
Kevin Conway	...	Funhouse / Freakshow / Stripshow Barkers
Herb Robins	...	Carnival Manager
Mona Agar	...	Mona - a strip show dancer
Wayne Doba	...	The Monster
William Finley	...	Marco the Magnificent

Also Known As:

Carnival of Terror

Runtime:

96 min | Sweden:90 min (cut) | Belgium:80 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

West Germany:18 (cut) | UK:15 (re-rating) | Norway:15 (2009) (uncut) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Finland:(Banned) | France:-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | Norway:(Banned) (1981-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

North Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Mace Neufeld Productions

Trivia:

The title for the film's French release is 'Massacres dans le train fantôme', meaning 'Massacres on the Ghost Train'.

Quotes:

Funhouse: ...Who will dare to face the challenge of the Funhouse? Who is mad enough to enter that world of darkness? How about you, sir...?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Storm (2005)

She's stoned. When you're stoned, *Charles Manson* is a terrific guy.

This video nastie was banned in Britain in 1981, but released uncut in 1987. That is the quickest turnaround I have seen, and I suspect it is because it is not really that gruesome.

The main attraction to the movie is the last part where the group is discovered and the "monster" and his dad are chasing them. Then, the background of the fun house makes for a very interesting backdrop to the actions. Screams and killing and a gruesome looking monster make this a fun experience.

I had flashbacks to Reefer Madness, as only the "good girl" comes out unscathed. Those who smoke reefer and have casual sex are doomed to perdition.

Elizabeth Berridge gives us a skintastic moment in her shower scene that reprises Psycho.