Máscaras do Terror

I haven't seen this movie in years since the last time I rented on a local "Video Centro" (a popular video franchise from Mèxico).

The memories I have are blurry but I can say without fear of equivocation, that this was a fairly scary and creepy movie; specially for those who have clownphobia.

The premise was pretty good and interesting for a fast paced slasher flick. So three escaped convicts "hide" in a big classy house where three kids are left alone.

The atmosphere of the house was truly creepy. Accompained to that, there were also decent death scenes provoked by the convicts.

Overall this is an entertaining slasher flick that worths a watch... specially if you have clownphobia.

I first saw this on a vhs in the early 90s. Found it to be creepy then. Revisited it recently on You Tube. It hasn't aged well but there is something creepy bah the clowns n their masks.

The story is bah 3 brothers who r alone since their parents r away. The youngest one has coulrophobia. The eldest one, a very young Sam Rockwell takes his brothers to a circus. Meanwhile 3 escaped mental patients r on the loose.

Made on a shoe string budget, Salva did some good job. The body count is low n the gore/violence is minimum but the movie plays more on the fear. Clownhouse does show that Salva actually has talent when it comes to putting together an effective horror movie.

The movie has lingering shots of the young actors in their underwear, shirtless, and even changing clothes. N aft knowing Salva's child molestation history, i found those scenes disgusting. What Salva did is truly unforgivable and despicable.

People may relate this film to IT and Alone in the Dark.

I couldn't do that to the young men in this film that worked extremely hard to make this film enjoyable. Easy to see the talent a young Sam Rockwell possess as he is great as always in this film. Director can rot for all I care.

Putting aside all the controversy surrounding this film (including the events that actually transpired behind the scenes), I went into this movie at face value with no bias. I knew it was a slasher and the directorial debut of Victor Salva, so I was expecting a low-grade horror movie that, while not important in the grand scheme of cinema, would be entertaining enough to make me jump a few times and root for the main characters. Not the case.

This movie just fell flat. It was bland. It was boring. The acting, particularly from Nathan Forrest Winters (perhaps as a result of the unspeakable horrors he endured at the hands of Salva) gave a fantastic performance. The other boys were good, but Nathan was definitely the standout.

The thrills weren't all that effective, the tone of the movie was definitely uncomfortable on more than one occasion. There was an obvious attempt on the part of the director to sexualize Nathan, which is extremely uncomfortable to watch today.

Although I did say in my Powder review earlier today that I believe in second chances and forgiveness (actions, or lack thereof, speak louder than words and we're now 31 years without further allegations or investigations from Salva), I can't help but feel like this film is best left in the past, completely forgotten. MGM have done a pretty good job thus far of helping to slip this film into utter obscurity. This is not a film that anybody really needs to be watching. There's nothing in this movie that hasn't already been discussed countless times online. Save yourself the tediously boring movie and just read the commentaries regarding it online. It didn't hold up well when it was released, and it hasn't stood the test of time very well at all. If Powder is my number-one favorite movie of his and in my top 5 all-time favorites (and it is), then I would place Clownhouse at the bottom. Let this film die out. Let Nathan Forrest Winters have peace from the trauma he went through. This is a film best left in the past.

This is the first time I have looked up this movie online and read all the reviews. Some hate it some loved it. I am glad this movie brought enjoyment to the people who liked it. One of the trivia statements on this movie is that they assume Brian McHugh was molested by Victor. This is not the case. Nathan, Sam and I would spend time at Victors house rehearsing prior to filming. I would stay the night there but I was never alone with him. He had set up a camera to film me showering and dressing without my knowledge but that was the extent of it. I did seek legal counsel but was told at the time, without him actually being physical with me, it would be a long, brutal trial that probably wouldn't be worth it. So, my mother decided she did not want me to go through that. Victor is a POS and always will be. Karma will find him one day. That is it in a nutshell. I went on to finish school, joined the military, and now just work like everyone else. Hope this sheds some light on what happened to me since everyone wants to speculate. Thank for all the feedback, good and bad.

Sincerely, Brian McHugh.