The Funhouse Massacre

With a title that is a mash-up of two Tobe Hooper horror classics—The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Funhouse—it's obvious from the start that The Funhouse Massacre isn't going to offer much in the way of originality: it's Halloween night, a group of lunatics have escaped from a high security mental asylum and are killing the patrons of a fun-house. Nope, not much new there! Still, at least the film never pretends to be anything other than a whole load of silly splattery fun, its tongue firmly in cheek as the psychopaths slash, chop, smash, slice and dice their way through the attraction's blissfully unaware customers, who believe that the killing is all part of the show—at least until it is their turn to die.

It takes a while to get to the really bloody stuff (the last act is where the best effects happen, including a couple of cool decapitations), but when it does, The Funhouse Massacre proves very enjoyable nonsense, each psycho having their own unique method of dispatching victims: Animal the Cannibal (E.E. Bell) eats them (obviously), demented dentist Dr. Suave (Sebastian Siegel) uses an unusually large drill to treat 'patients', The Taxidermist (Clint Howard) guts and stuffs people, Rocco the Clown (Mars Crain) uses a 'test your strength' hammer to crush heads, and The Stitch Face Killer sews shut the eyes and mouth. Meanwhile Mental Manny (Jere Burns) oversees the carnage, which features some surprisingly good gore effects (just checked the credits and Robert Kurtzman was involved, so maybe not so surprising after all).

This film was amazing. It had such an old school horror feel to it. Maybe it was Robert England, I don't know. But I was engaged and on my seat in most parts of the film. Some were a little slow, but it was worth it once the big stuff came along.

The Funhouse Massacre is a comedy horror which actually manages to deliver on both fronts, not to groundbreaking levels but is regardless some real take your brain out fun.

It tells the story of a group of inmates who are broken out of a top secret asylum for the worst of the worst. Being Halloween there is a nearby horror attraction which they descend upon for a night of carnage.

With Robert Englund in the opening scene and the whole thing looking the part my hopes were fairly high within the first few minutes and I have to say they were met. This is never going to win any awards for originality but it sets about doing everything you'd expect and does it above par.

Also starring uber industry veteran Clint Howard as one of our psychopaths I was shocked just how well comedy blended with the subject matter all things considered. With a couple of comedy psychos and a hopefully inept deputy who cracked me up throughout, alongside your usual array of stereotypical 20-somethings it's roster is very strong.

The sfx are entirely practical with lashings of gore, some inventive kills and absolutely no mercy.

It's a slasher film with character and some genuinely enjoyable comedy. Take it for what it is and you might actually find yourself having a laugh riot.

The Good:

Robert Englund

Some funny moments

Decent opening

Looks great

Oddly good performances

The Bad:

Some stuff defies logic

No pun intended - the movie has its moments I reckon. Some of them include special effects - and while it may be lazy at a few points (just bodies hitting the floor or body parts being detached in similar ways) ... considering this is a low budget movie should give you pause and make you rethink any criticism of that sort.

That all said, the acting is not really the best the movie has to offer. Which might be a strange thing to say if you look at the cast list ... but what people do for a paycheck .. still this is low budget, it is horror, if both those things feel like the right thing for you ... well you could do wrong for sure.

Seen worse but also better movies - at least this does not take prisoners ... quite literally too ...

On Halloween night, a group of six terrifying inmates manage to break free from a high-security mental asylum. Their twisted minds lead them to target unsuspecting teenagers who are enjoying the thrills of the newly opened Haunted Scream Park, turning it into a night of horror and terror.

If you enjoy gore, this film is perfect for you with plenty of bloody scenes to keep you entertained. The minor plot twists add an extra layer of excitement to the film. While the performances may not be outstanding, the film compensates with captivating moments that will hold your attention. This is an adventure that won't leave you frightened, but it certainly won't leave you uninterested either, that's for sure.