The Funhouse
Universal Pictures | Release Date: March 13, 1981 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
56
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
3
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
IGNR. L. Shaffer
Despite all the cinematic thievery and homage, The Funhouse manages to stand on its own as an eerie, slow-brewing slasher that builds quite a bit of effective tension and dread leading into the more generic final act. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Hooper doesn’t entirely escape the rote business of semi-regular mutilations and impalings, but The Funhouse succeeds in updating a monster from the Universal pantheon and setting it loose in the type of traveling death trap that’s been haunting small towns forever. Read full review
70
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
It's rare that any film follows through its chosen themes with such attention to detail, much less leavening the package with a truly anarchic blend of black humour. Read full review
60
The New York TimesJohn Corry
Mr. Hooper almost persuades us that he is up to more than just gore, creepiness and trauma. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
While certainly not as interesting or accomplished as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Funhouse is a cut above the average slasher film. Read full review
50
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
Devotees of director Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be particularly disappointed with the almost total lack of shocks and mayhem. Read full review
37
Washington PostGary Arnold
The Funhouse begins with a lamely facetious reprise of the shower sequence from Psycho and slides steadily downhill there. [18 Mar 1981, p.B4]
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