I'm still pondering over what I thought about this movie and to be honest I can't come to a conclusion. I would say had I watched it at a similar time to all the horrors my dad rented in when I was a kid (Carrie, Maximum Overdrive, Christine, Firestarter.. yup he liked Stephen King) then I would have enjoyed it, but as an adult with a love of horror, I can't say I was very impressed.
The movie is mostly set in a carnival (an idea which I loved) where 4 teenagers discover some altogether darker things are occuring behind the scenes at the hands of one of the fair workers son, who is monstrously disfigured and obviously not the full shilling. He's a bit of a sad character who in places just seemed to want some companionship and love, but as with so many 'monsters' mans nature turn it bad. Some character building and a bit more background would have helped matters enormously there but I just don't feel we were invited to care enough about the unfortunate 'monster' of the movie.
Initially, when I read that Tobe Hooper was involved with this movie, I was looking forward to watching it and when I think about it, I quite enjoyed the half of the movie where we are introduced to the main female lead Amy, her younger brother Joey and her boyfriend and another couple. Some of the aspects of the carnival were either interesting or amusing like the 2 headed cow and the worlds crappest burlesque show, but once we supposedly 'got going' I started losing interest.
The murders are all pretty tame stuff and I struggled to work out why this movie was ever placed on the infamous list. We have one murder completely off screen by way of a air conditioning fan (at least I think that's what it was), a hanging, a hatchet in the head of a dead body with hardly any blood, a conveniently placed sword impaling... you get the drift.
I didn't feel any empathy with the characters or the would be monster. The makeup for the monster was quite good for its time, but I struggle to think of much to say about most of the movie other than 'it was ok'. I was disappointed with the lack of that ominous undertone Hooper is famous for, especially with a carnival as a backdrop!! Ultimate in creepiness, but in this movie, it was sadly lacking.
The only part that I thought was of any interest was a prank Joey plays on his older sister Amy at the start of the movie. The ultimate in pranks and rather sick but bloody effective! Big nod to Psycho there.
In conclusion, I would say, big slasher buffs could give it a watch purely for it being another of 'those' movies of 'that' era, you may find it a pleasant enough watch, but I found it rather dull after it lost pace for me.
Bring back the scares please!!!
Please use the comments bellow only to comment on this post - to write your own review, please comment on the main post for this movie.
Please use the comments bellow only to comment on this post - to write your own review, please comment on the main post for this movie.
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