Label: Arrow Films
Release date: October 29 2007
Certificate: 15
Running time: 91m
Price: £15.99
Director: Tobe Hooper
Stars: Elizabeth Berridge, Kevin Conway, Sylvia Miles, William Finley, Miles
Chapin, Wayne Doba
From the director of the notorious THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (USA, 1974) and DEATH TRAP (USA, 1977) comes THE FUNHOUSE (USA, 1981).
Originally released uncut in cinemas, the film formed a classic double-bill with MY BLOODY VALENTINE (d. George Mihalka, Canada, 1981). The UK CIC video release ran at 88m 42s. Needless to say the film found itself on the DPP’s banned list from September 1984 to June 1985, but in this case it was due to bad luck rather than “bad taste”. Hooper’s film had been confused with THE LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END STREET (d. Roger Michael Watkins, USA, 1977) a bizarre and disturbing film which was also briefly known as FUNHOUSE. Hooper's little seen but highly regarded shocker finally comes to UK DVD on 29th October 2007; the running time is listed as 91m.
Reportedly the project that was responsible for Hooper having to turn down directing duties on E.T.: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL, THE FUNHOUSE is a genuinely fun and creepy horror film. Its excellent cast includes Elizabeth Berridge (AMADEUS), Shawn Carson (SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES), Miles Chapin (THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT and HOWARD THE DUCK) and mime artist Wayne Doba (SCARFACE) along with cult favourites William Finley (BLOOD SISTERS, DEATH TRAP and THE BLACK DAHLIA) and two-time Oscar nominee Sylvia Miles (THE SENTINEL, HEAT and THE LAST MOVIE), and special make design by six-time Oscar winner Rick Baker (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON).
THE FUNHOUSE starts with an inspired opening sequence that pays homage to both ‘Psycho' and ‘Halloween' in the same breath, this leads to a reworking of the ‘old dark house' story; the film's premise is simple but effective. After an evening having fun at a travelling carnival, two teenage couples on a double date decide to spend the night hidden inside the funhouse amongst the fake goblins, skeletons and monsters. But the hi-jinks soon turn into a living nightmare when they witness the murder of the carnival's fortune-teller, Madame Zena (Miles) at the hands of the showground barker's freakish son, Gunther (Doba), and find themselves being stalked by a grotesque creature more terrifying than anything the funhouse itself has to offer.
At the time of its production, the esteemed Cinefantastique magazine emphasised the troubled filming schedule. It seems there were disputes between Tobe Hooper and producers Steven Bernhardt and Derek Power, daily script revisions and frequent monster design changes. The monster was designed by Rick Baker and then handed over to his assistant, Craig Reardon. At the time Baker was busy working with Steven Spielberg, and filming AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. At one point 4,500ft of film was lost which necessitated the re-shooting of an entire sequence. Hooper also struggled with the schedule of night time shooting at the imported carnival, followed by morning conferences and often afternoon studio shooting.
Despite its production problems though, THE FUNHOUSE is a great old-school slasher film. It has convincing performances, stylish camerawork, superb set designs and slick direction which all add to the ominous carnival atmosphere, and in my opinion, is Hooper's best work after THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE.
Features:
Dolby Digital 2.0
English subtitles
Scene selection.
