The Funhouse

     I can't seem to make up my mind about "The Funhouse"- do I like the movie or not?  The plot goes like this.  On a double date, the guys decide it would be like, far out to, to like go to the carnival and spend the night in the funhouse.  So they do and like of course the final girl's little brother sneaks out of the house and follows them to the carnival.  After it closes down for the night, the two couples silently witness the murder of the fortuneteller Madame Zena and soon find themselves stalked by the same bloodthirsty killer wearing a Frankenstein mask.

     Overall it just seems a bit too campy to really be taken seriously- there's almost a "Scooby-Doo" vibe to the movie.  Which is fine.  I totally dig movies like this.  The use of bright colors, on top of the carnival atmosphere, really give it an almost cartoonish feel.  It's an odd movie.  It's not a terrible movie by any means, but one that just never really hits that high mark.  It's kind of frustrating, actually.  There's something overall missing with "The Funhouse".  What Tobe Hopper did with "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Salem's Lot" -I mean , this could easily have been just as horrifying.  Yet... it's not.  I don't dislike the movie, I own it actually.  But I don't love the movie, either.  I honestly think it could've been done better.  On the positive side, there is some creepiness going on here and there.  The scene in the air shaft is quite chilling, the monster himself is pretty scary, and there's tons of shots of dummies, mannequins, clowns, and such that perfectly captures that carnival feel. And it really isn't that bad... or is it?  You decide.