Warden Robert Englund presides over a secret supermax prison that exclusively houses serial killers. There’s a jailbreak on Halloween night and the nutjobs take refuge in a nearby haunted house attraction based on their various crimes. A group of friends then go to the park unaware that the “Scare Actors” have been replaced by the real McCoy.
That’s a pretty neat idea for a movie. It’s kind of like Slashers Meets Hell Fest. It also helps that the cast is solid for this sort of thing. In addition to Englund (whose role ultimately amounts to an extended cameo), we have Jere (Justified) Burns acting suitably tweaked as the ringleader of the group of killers. Candice De Visser also makes a memorable impression as Burns’ clown-faced gal pal, who is basically a Harley Quinn clone, but is nevertheless fun to watch. We also get Clint Howard as “The Taxidermist” who’s sort of like the Ed Gein of the group. (Other killers are loosely based on Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter.) The ’Burbs' Courtney Gains is also kind of funny as the owner of the haunted attraction, and Scottie Thompson makes for a fetching Final Girl as the sexy sheriff on the case.
The gore is great all around too. There’s face ripping, gut ripping, death by coat hook, head bludgeoning via strongman mallet, plaque scraper in the ear, head ripping (multiple), and a face shoved in a hot dog grill. The surprising thing about The Funhouse Massacre is that the humor is actually funny. I liked the scene where the dim bulb girl thought her Marilyn Monroe outfit was a “Sexy Hilary Clinton costume”. The bumbling deputy gets some laughs as he’s hopelessly out of his depth taking on a half dozen serial killers. All in all, this is a fun time, and makes for perfect Spooky Season viewing. It’s certainly much better than the similarly themed, but wildly overpraised, Haunt.
Haunt is still pretty good though.
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