THE VAULT

The Funhouse (1981) Explained: Beyond the Blood

Scare Score: 6/100

Pay to get in. Pray to get out!

The Premise

Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy "Funhouse" horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy and her friends must evade the murderous carnival workers and escape before it leaves town the next day.

Why It Terrifies Us

Categorized under Slasher, The Funhouse taps into fundamental fears. The 6/100 Scare Score is well-earned. The themes of mask, carnival, slasher continually haunt viewers long after the credits roll.

Into The Vault

Ready to dig deeper? The ScreamDesk Vault connects you to the architecture of fear.