Badmovies.org Forum

Reader review by Matt Steenburg

Wow! No comments for this film?  :question:

I'm going to have to disagree with this review, as I thought this film was very good. It was not dimly lit at all as the reviewer claimed, even though the main focus of the film was the teens staying the "night" in a "closed" funhouse.  :lookingup: Even though it does take close to an hour for the real terror and killing to begin, I felt the build up was excellent. The carnival folk, attractions and funfare in general I found to be very creepy. The monster, when finally revealed is a brilliant bit of design, with matted white hair, piercing red eyes and it possesses a horrible blood curdling shriek. Obviously this film is nowhere near the sheer, menacing class of Chainsaw Massacre, but Tobe Hooper deserves more credit for this one. A totally capable 80's slasher/monster flick, with my only gripe being the cover/artwork used, that is misleading to an extent. I've read comments on other sites people have left about this film and I know they haven't actually sat and watched this. The killer is not a clown, but a circus freak in a frankenstein mask. But again, highly recommended.  :teddyr:

I saw this on television, a number of years ago. It has the distinction of one of the few films ever to make me sick at my stomach. Not a pleasant experience--that.

I liked this one a little better than some, even though the book was much better. Great popcorn movie.

I actually kind of like this movie. I would give it two slimes. Tobe Hooper has done a lot worse. Has Tobe ever done anything even close to The Texas Chainsaw Massacer? If you thought this was bad check out Eaten Alive :buggedout:

I think this is 1 of Tobe's best movies (& there isn't that many, in my opinion).

It has great movie posters too.

The first time I saw this film I didn't think it was that great but tonight I really got into it and really enjoyed the carnival even before things got out of control.  Disappointing that they didn't use more gags with mirrors and some of the other stuff in the funhouse during the tense parts, but still, this was a good movie and I am glad that everyone died except the virgin.   Great ending as she is stumbling around outside and was the only one to live through the experience.  This is a horror film; it's susposed to leave you wondering how she will make it through life after that terrifying ordeal, as opposed to some horror movies in the later 1980s that ended with hugs.