Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Heading off with her friends, a group of teens decide to spend the night in a local carnival's funhouse and notice that a deformed, masked worker who killed a fellow member is now out to kill them in order to cover up the crime forcing them to have to get past the killer and the rest of his family.This here wasn't all that bad of a slasher. One of the better features here is the appropriately dirty and somewhat sleazy atmosphere around the carnival which makes this one really feel like an authentic location. Filled with plenty of actual rides and attractions, such as haunted mazes or animal freak shows as well as the general feel around the camp with the crowds and carnival barkers, this whole section is really life-like so that the scenes of the group in the exhibits has a lot to like. Even better is that the switchover to the stalking and slashing in the second half has a lot to work off of, from the inadvertent peeping of him killing off the prostitute while they're spying from above, the whole scene of them trying to get away in the darkened attic and then being spotted as they plan their escape give this a strong start for the confrontations inside. These here are really enjoyable, from the surprising leanings inside the rides which later prompts them to be placed inside the attractions as well as the big battles they get into from there as they get involved in the intense brawl inside the attractions of the carnival alongside the strong finishing chase through the hall of mirrors down into the gears of the facility. Alongside the great look of the killer when finally unveiled, these here are what hold this one up as there really isn't a whole lot wrong with this one. One of its problems is the slow pace in the beginning as the opening setup for the walk-through of the carnival takes a large amount of time to get started. There's around an hour of material before the killer even gets started, and while it builds up atmosphere, this really could've been trimmed down a tad and replace most of the running around. The subplot involving her brother at the carnival is one of those big reasons which also holds things up and ultimately never comes to anything, despite the build-up it is given. It's quite hard to believe that the outcome is really all that deserving, and it in itself is just an awful plot-line that holds up even more time. There's also the issue here with a really weak and unspectacular finale showdown in the basement with the killer which is somewhat shorter than expected and doesn't seem to have any kind of impact here. The film's other big problem is the lack of gore in the kills as despite the variety featured here such as an ax in the head, a sword in the back, a stabbing and being crushed by hydraulic equipment, this has far less gore and it really could've used more. Otherwise, this one here was quite nicely done.Rated R: Violence, Graphic Language, Nudity and mild drug use.

This movie essentially begins with two teenage couples deciding to visit a nearby traveling carnival and once there they choose to spend the night in the chamber of horrors known as the "Funhouse". Although they fully understand that what they are doing is wrong what they don't count on is witnessing a murder and being trapped inside with a deformed, maniacal killer who has been ordered by his father to ensure that none of these witnesses escape alive. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, as one of the first 80's "slasher films", this particular picture wasn't too bad overall. Admittedly, although the features of the "monster" were a bit ridiculous, the plot pretty much followed the standard format for this specific time-period and the acting was equally basic, there was enough suspense to keep things interesting for the most part. In short, this wasn't a bad movie and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Tobe Hooper made this film after the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). After an aborted project (Eaten Alive, 1977) and a telefilm (Salem's Lot, 1981). The film shows a sure directorial skill that would fade little by little after his Lifeforce (1985). The film revolves around a group of teenagers who decides to spend the night inside a dark ride (The Funhouse) and witness a murder between two members of the circus. After this they are hunted by the by the deformed killer and his father and... well, the rest is the usual nerve wrecking scenes. This film had a huge mark on me when I watched it in television in my infancy, I remembered it for long time and unfortunately it was rare to show on TV and since I didn't had a VCR I couldn't watch it anywhere, when I got older I imported it on DVD, which is the copy I own. After a gap of some 15 years, the film still has the sinister mood of my recollection. It is sad that Hooper career followed a downward spiral, none of his films has the force of TTCM, though he came close in Funhouse and with Poltergeist (1982).

Director Tobe Hooper is not one to have many theatrically released films under his belt but for it's his earliest efforts people seem to remember them the most. Most notably would be The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), but that also means including this one. Although it is not as cleverly crafted nor as strangely terrifying as Mr. Hooper's first outing; it does have some redeemable qualities. The part that works the best to this picture's credit is the idea of which it focuses on. Funhouses are never what they promise, anywhere. The only intent funhouses are made for are to have fun by being creeped out. Nobody really goes there for actual fun and games.Well not according to these characters. Meet Amy (Elizabeth Berridge) a young teen girl looking to have fun with her hotshot boyfriend Buzz (Cooper Huckabee) and two other friends. Together they head out to the local carnival that's running in town and decide to be there snobbish young selves. Adding to that particular attitude is completely ignoring her parents wishes of not attending the carnival since there were some issues with it from the year before. Oh but no harm should come this time, it was all a misunderstanding - sure. Protagonist wise there isn't any particular actor that stands out. Lawrence Block's screenplay is at best average. It has interesting ideas but doesn't bother to conclude them with much closure except for its main plot.Funny thing is that Block only wrote for one other production and that was the failed and now cheap looking Captain America (1990). But perhaps even stranger is that there are various elements to the story that are similar to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Specifically that some characters have the Southern accents, work as a family and do not have normal lives. All very similar to the cannibal family that Leatherface belonged to. The man in charge of this family is The Barker (Kevin Conway - who would play better roles later on his career). Conway is probably the best part when it came to characters but sadly he was underused. Along with Conway were other strange characters that appeared from time to time. An example of this would be of some old preacher woman. And her significance was for?As for the funhouse itself, since that is where our story takes place mostly, it works at times. Some of the vintage props look great because by today they look rather creepy. But there were also other items that felt like something today's funhouses would include too. The best particular scene would be the chase in the basement. That was creepier than the actual funhouse. Andrew Laszlo's cinematography, the guy behind First Blood (1982) got some nice shots of the carnival but once inside the funhouse, nothing was really interesting. John Beal's music was alright occasionally. He did have some creepy tunes but other than that it wasn't very memorable. It's not unwatchable but there are better things to see unless carnivals are truly unsettling to you.The setting can't fail at being creepy because what funhouse isn't? What makes it average though is its non-engaging characters and flimsy writing.