A surprisingly disturbing little hidden nugget of early eighties fright,
The Funhouse brings back a lot of fond memories . . .
. . . of the carnivals that typically roll through Anytown, USA.
This is probably what makes The Funhouse so disturbing. I mean, who hasn’t gone through a funhouse in a carnival? Could this happen to me, I mean after all those carnies are a freaky people, right?
I have often heard that people thought that The Funhouse kind of ripped off Halloween because of the whole opening scene but other than a clown mask I would say this is not so at all.
After a scare from her baby brother Joey (Shawn Carson), Amy (Elizabeth Berridge) gets ready for a big night out in the little town with Buzz (Cooper Huckabee) and her friends Liz (Largo Woodruff) and Richie (Miles Chapin). Whilst enjoying the carnival they get the bright idea that spending the night in the funhouse would be a grand idea. Little do they know that Joey followed them to the funhouse and knows that they are locked inside. Unfortunately for them, by the end of the night – he is not the only one to discover their little secret.
I really loved the way that they spent time kind of slowly panning the whole carnival experience. You got to see all the fun features – from the freak show to the strip show to the rides and games – and you got a real sense of the atmosphere that is quintessential carnival.
All that and a real life freak, Gunther Straker (Wayne Doba) son of the carnival’s patriarch, Conrad (Kevin Conway – he also played the rest of the barkers in case you were wondering) who seems to have a penchant for having little accidents with the locals as he is getting his rocks off. He takes it a little too far this time though when he sullies one of the family, a mystic by the name of Madame Zena (Sylvia Miles).
As Gunther is being chastised for his careless act, the foursome who have watched the entire event are found out and thus begins the chase.
With some decent death scenes, creepy atmosphere and just freaky shit going on in general,
The Funhouse was definitely a wild ride that I would recommend whole heartedly.
The Funhouse Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Tobe Hooper
Writing credits
Lawrence Block writer
Cast (in credits order) complete
Elizabeth Berridge ... Amy Harper
Shawn Carson ... Joey Harper
Jeanne Austin ... Mrs. Harper
Jack McDermott ... Mr. Harper
Cooper Huckabee ... Buzz Klemmet
Largo Woodruff ... Liz Duncan
Miles Chapin ... Richie Atterbury
David Carson ... Geek (as D. Lee Carson)
Sonia Zomina ... Bag Lady
Ralph Morino ... Truck Driver
Kevin Conway ... Funhouse - Conrad Straker / Freakshow / Stripshow Barkers
Herb Robins ... Carnival Manager
Mona Agar ... Strip Show Dancer
Wayne Doba ... The Monster - Gunther Straker
William Finley ... Marco the Magnificent
Susie Malnik ... Carmella
Sylvia Miles ... Madame Zena
Sid Raymond ... Stripshow MC
Larry Ross ... Girly Show Heckler
Frank Grimes ... Strip Show Voyeur
Frank Schuller ... Poker Player #1
Peter Conrad ... Midget with Lady
Mildred Hughes ... Tall Lady
Glen Lawrence ... Spectator
Shawn McAllister ... Garbage Collector
Sandy Mielke ... Garbage Collector
Mike Montalvo ... Spectator
Allison Caine ... Additional Voices (voice)
Sherman 'Big Train' Bergman ... Carnival worker (uncredited)
Raymond Forchion ... Man in Tent Show (uncredited)
More Movie Reviews of The Funhouse
Movie Review of The Funhouse from Horror-Movies.caThe Funhouse Movie Review at Lost Highway
