The Funhouse (1981): A Forgotten Horror Gem?

Who is brave enough to face the challenges of the funhouse?

The Funhouse is a 1981 horror film. A group of teens attend a carnival for a fun night out. This evening turns into a nightmare when they trespass the funhouse after hours. They witness horrifying events and the doors are locked.

The Funhouse has been locked away in the darkness of underrated horror gems. I found out this film existed when I was looking for October movies. Horror manifests any setting into a terrifying ambiance; this time, it’s a carnival. As we traverse through the dark shadows of a scary funhouse, The Funhouse goes off the haywire with realism.

Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, Largo Woodruff, and Miles Chaprin play the quartet of teens. The actors were much older than teens, like Huckabee who was 30 years old during filming. While they are your average teenagers, they have more depth than expected. The actors were good in the parts and looked out for their safety during filming.

A lot of good character actors play small roles as carnies. The magician (William Finley) was my favorite, ramping up his show. This is why you should make small roles stand out. More credits include Kevin Conway, Herb Robins, Wayne Doba, Sylvia Miles, and Sonia Zomina. Some of these actors didn’t have film experience, like Doba who was a former mime.

Carnivals are exciting places. They have rides, tasty snacks, and entertaining shows. As fun as carnivals are, they have their horror elements. There are bright lights, music, activities, tons of people, and it’s nighttime. Several bad events could happen. If you learn anything from this movie - don’t stay in a carnival after closing.

The funhouse itself is an unsettling maze of animatronics and distorted mirrors that distort reality, creating a disorienting space for both the characters and the audience. The camera angles make you feel a sense of doom and like someone is watching you in the dark.

You can feel the tension and fear. Tobe Hooper, best known for his infamous direction of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1973), directed a terrifying scenario I would never want to be in. Hooper’s direction incorporated realism as much as possible. For example, he used real antiques and old mechanical toys for props in the movie.

The cinematography and camera shots are set up to enhance the terror. The Funhouse was filmed in Miami and other locations in Florida. Hooper worked with cinematographer Andrew Laszlo to create a visual style that immerses the audience in the twisted world of the carnival.

There are spots where the story could have been stronger. Joey’s (Shawn Carson) stroll around the closed park becomes repetitive. The monster’s (Doba) appearance was over-the-top. I think he should have been physically deformed, instead of a monster-looking creature you’d see in a movie.

Not only was the story dark, but several tales transpired behind the scenes. One carnival ride malfunctioned, running for a half hour, leaving several passengers sick and traumatized once the problem was fixed. In addition, Hooper was bitten by a spider and almost hit by a flying cog.

Most nudity was cut from the story. The film was supposed to have more graphic violence but was trimmed down.

Theatergoers and critics were surprised by The Funhouse. So, how come it hasn’t reached audiences? The ending of The Funhouse is even more horrifying the more it lingers in your mind. This film has mature themes and it is scary. Trust me, it makes a great October watch party with your friends.