The Funhouse Massacre is a comedy horror which actually manages to deliver on both fronts, not to groundbreaking levels but is regardless some real take your brain out fun.

It tells the story of a group of inmates who are broken out of a top secret asylum for the worst of the worst. Being Halloween there is a nearby horror attraction which they descend upon for a night of carnage.

With Robert Englund in the opening scene and the whole thing looking the part my hopes were fairly high within the first few minutes and I have to say they were met. This is never going to win any awards for originality but it sets about doing everything you'd expect and does it above par.

Also starring uber industry veteran Clint Howard as one of our psychopaths I was shocked just how well comedy blended with the subject matter all things considered. With a couple of comedy psychos and a hopefully inept deputy who cracked me up throughout, alongside your usual array of stereotypical 20-somethings it's roster is very strong.

The sfx are entirely practical with lashings of gore, some inventive kills and absolutely no mercy.

It's a slasher film with character and some genuinely enjoyable comedy. Take it for what it is and you might actually find yourself having a laugh riot.

The Good:

Robert Englund

Some funny moments

Decent opening

Looks great

Oddly good performances

The Bad:

Some stuff defies logic

A group of the nation's most gruesome killers are set free by a follower of charismatic cult leader Mental Manny (Jere Burns) who survived the fire...no pun intended Mr. Burns. They go to a Halloween Funhouse which has displays/exhibits/shows of all of them as they kill their actor doubles and assume their positions at the Funhouse. Audience members are all game after paying an arm and a leg to get in. (Yes they went there with the puns.) A group of celebrity impersonator restaurant workers attend the event. Laurie (Renee Dorian) is a virgin, so we know who is "The Final Girl' by formula.

I love Funhouse/Carnival slasher films with clowns, even the bad ones. This film boasts horror icon Robert Englund as the warden and Ice Cream Man Clint Howard who was also on the original Star Trek whose name sounds like the demon from "The Conjuring 2." Sorry for that plot spoiler, Hollywood added a demon to the Enfield Haunting, but no aliens. That would be silly and unbelievable.

Ben Begley acted the stereotypical bumbling deputy very well. Chasty Ballesteros played her typical role as "Hot Asian Chick" only this time she has a blonde wig. Newcomer Candice De Visser has that nice "Sherrie Moon Zombie/Victoria DeMare" crazy twitch down pat.

Guide:F-word, sex, nudity (Chasty Ballesteros) Human body with 5-6 major squirting arteries going to head.

THE FUNHOUSE MASSACRE is an unashamed does-what-it-says-on-the-tin type of B-movie horror film, emphasising very gruesome deaths throughout and barely featuring any kind of storyline. The opening sequence features a decent cameo by Robert Englund but is entirely predictable, and before long we move to a gloomy old carnival setting where the sideshow exhibits are real-life escaped psychopaths, each with their own modus operandi. The film has a noticeably light tone with lots of cheesy jokes and even cheesier acting, but the gore comes thick and fast and is well staged. The film also has something of an '80s feel to it, with small roles for Clint Howard and Courtney Gains, which is why I rated it.