On this day March 13 1981 the horror film The Funhouse premiered in theaters. Directed by Tobe Hooper the film starred Elizabeth Berridge Kevin Conway Largo Woodruff William Finley Cooper Huckabee Miles Chapin and Sylvia Miles.
The story followed a group of teenagers who decide to spend the night in a carnival funhouse only to find themselves stalked by a deformed killer. Combining slasher horror with eerie carnival aesthetics The Funhouse delivered a unique atmosphere that set it apart from other horror films of the era. Despite mixed reviews upon release it grossed 7.8 million at the box office and has since gained a cult following.
80s insight:: Director Tobe Hooper was originally approached to direct Halloween II but chose to work on The Funhouse instead.