Horror andThe Avengersaren’t usually spoken in the same sentence, and itfeels like an implausible crossover. However, if the horror genre was to ever have its own iteration of the superhero group, they would likely be iconic villains. As much as survivors andfinal girls have become belovedfor their ingenuity and instincts, it is the classic antagonists that people remember. The likes of Jason Vorhees or Freddy Krueger led their own movies in the same way as Iron Man or Captain America, with theirown iconic and instantly recognizable imagery. Although crossovers have been popular in the genre with movies such asFreddy vs. JasonandGodzilla vs. Kong, thelack of a central distributorin the same manner as Marvel makes the possibility of a horror dream team near impossible.
The Funhouse Massacreis the answer to this dilemma,bringing together classic styles of horror villains without relying on any existing IP. The movie uses memorable set design and unique backstories to alloweach antagonist to feel fully realized and recognizablewithout feeling like gimmicky copies. Taking inspiration from deadly dentists to killer clowns,The Funhouse Massacrefeels like the closest the horror genre will ever get to an Avengers-style supergroup witha singular mission of inflicting as many deaths as they can.
What is ‘The Funhouse Massacre’ About?
The Funhouse Massacreopens with five dangerous prisoners being released from the institution they are being kept in by Miss Quinn (Candice De Visser), who enters as a journalist but is revealed to also be a killer. Miss Quinn is introduced to each inmate by Warden Kane (Robert Englund), with the iconic horror actor giving a monologuethat outlines each villain’s cleverly constructed backstory. This gives the audience insight into what kind of horror archetype each character fits into and allows a taster of what their feature-length movie would’ve been before this one bought them together, in the same way that before The Avengers, Iron Man, Hulk,Thor and Captain America got their own moviesand consequential character development.
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“Hail to the king, baby.”
Here,the villains presented are a balance between tried-and-tested stereotypes and more innovative killers.Rocco the Clown (Mars Crain) feels like the most recognizable slasher. Akin to Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees, he is large in stature and relies on brute force yet never says a word. Dr. Suave (Sebastian Siegal) is a bloodthirsty dentist who parallels Orin fromLittle Shop of Horrorsbut also feels like a commentary on attractive and charming serial killers, and Animal the Cannibal (E. E. Bell) is a blend of Hannibal Lecter’s tendencies andLeatherface’s mannerisms.However, it is the inclusion of an eccentric taxidermist (Clint Howard) and cunning cult leader, known as Mental Manny (Jere Burns), that transcendsThe Funhouse Massacreand allows it to truly feel like a blend of genres. The final killer is revealed to be Miss Quinn, actually named Eileen, who is known as the stitch-face killer.
‘The Funhouse Massacre’ Brings Together Classic Horror Villains
Prior to their escape, Eileen had romantically convinced a local businessman to theme a Halloween horror maze on the killers, with each one having a different room dedicated to their crimes, their plan being to position themselves in custom-made environments and attack the unsuspecting visitors. These carefully crafted roomsbring the unknown villains to lifeandmake them feel like fully fleshed-out characters who you have seen before. It gives each killer individuality andallows them to feel unique despite the limited screen time. When one of the protagonists enters a room, there is this distinct atmosphere, and you know what to expect from that particular antagonist. It plays into that narrative of famous horror icons coming together and feels like a true homage to the genre, almost like a greatest hits.
The Funhouse Massacrebacks up itsintriguing premise with a huge body count, enabling the movie to be bloody and gory whilst setting up the particular style of each killer. It allowseach antagonist to bring a different threat and require a different solution to be defeated,whilst also meaning the killers aren’t protected by plot armor. There isn’t this over-reliance on an inhumanely difficult-to-defeat villain, as they are almost as disposable as the heroes. This is partnered with the movie’s use of its fairground surroundings, creating innovative and gruesome deaths, including the use of a strongman machine and an electric fence.
For horror fans,The Funhouse Massacreisa true love letter to slashers, toying with genre tropes to bring together a group of villains with one shared goal.It feels like horror’s answer toThe Avengersand is truly unique in the way it crafts not one great villain, but six! It is a true buffet for fans of great kills and is unforgiving and relentless. Simultaneously paying homage to classic villains and crafting new ones,The Funhouse Massacreis the closest horror will ever get to its own supergroup.
The Funhouse Massacre
