The Funhouse (1981)

Review by Adam Thomas



Directed by Tobe Hooper
Starring Elizabeth Barridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff, and Miles Chapin
Ah, the carnival. Who doesn't love the sights and sounds of such a wonderful thing? There are rides to thrill you, food to fill you, and carnies to... kill you? Oh, yes, carnies hate their lives, it's scientifically proven; Wikipedia told me so [citation needed]. The employ of the traveling carnival is something reserved for those who cannot pass drug tests, background checks, or the SAT's. They are the undesirables, hired only because no one else is willing to hire them. They get to travel the country, taking on all the responsibilities of the roadie without any of the benefits. They usually lack in personal hygiene, and scare children moreso than enchant them. People attend these gypsy sideshows more to lament the dregs of society and bolster their own self image rather than enjoy themselves, but that's just a theory.

The man who brought us sheer gut-wrenching terror with the genre defining Texas Chainsaw Massacre invokes the terror that is brought upon us by the cotton candy and booze soaked environment of the carnival with this film. It begins like any of your basic slasher flicks; teens going on a double date, teens using illicit drugs, teens being pricks, you know, that old chestnut. The characters here aren't anything spectacular, the writing isn't going to win any Oscars, but it suffices for the plot. It gives you just enough to become slightly emotionally invested in these characters. When the teenagers get to the carnival, they visit all the attractions, like the animal freak show, they play some games, and generally enjoy themselves. Then, when it's time to leave, The muscley stoner of the group proposes that they stay in the fun house. Why shouldn't they, since some other teens did it before, and had a blast! Nothing could possibly go wrong from illegally trespassing on property belonging to people whose diet consists of peanuts, vodka and broken dreams. Oh, the folly of youth.

Needless to say, the decision is finalized, phone calls are made misleading the parents, and the "fun" begins. Now, most of the time in these kinds of movies, "fun" is not usually associated with laughs and warm hearts. No, "fun" here is defined as watching from the attic as the busty old gypsy gives the Quasimodo body double a $100 quickie handjob, then watching him strangle her to death, presumably because he learned that trick from playing too much Grand Theft Auto. When Father Carnie comes in and sees that Quasi has killed his only means of getting laid, he isn't happy. And now, the real "fun" begins. Father Carnie notices there are people in the loft of the fun house, and of course, he isn't happy. He uses the fun house to set traps and catch them all. Honestly, I can't feel bad for them. I mean, they kind of deserved what they got. If you think it's a good idea to encroach on a carnie's territory, then you deserve every bit of what you get.

This movie was suggested to me by a friend, who said she owns it, but can barely remember anything about it, other than it being awful. I disagree. I actually enjoyed this movie quite a bit. Apart from some borderline child pornography (I'm not entirely convinced lead actress Elizabeth Barridge was eighteen at the time of production, despite two very obvious boob shots), I enjoyed this movie. It was simple, it was entertaining, and it wasn't overtly cheesy, like so many slasher movies have become.

I give this movie a 7 out of 10.