With the first trailer released for terrifier 2, fans will see the return of one of cinema’s ugliest clowns. For some reason, clowns have fascinated fans of the genre for decades, which is why they thoroughly enjoy horror films set in amusement parks and carnivals.
There have been a number of carnival-style horror films over the years, so Redditors have been discussing the best thrillers to be set in festival settings, such as Fun house to Final destination 3. These films should not only be set in amusement parks, but should have at least one memorable sequence in the aforementioned setting.
Final Destination 3 (2006)
of Last destination movies have always centered around one big, highly creative destruction sequence. The third installment chose to have its death-defying plot take place on a roller coaster, forcing the few survivors to try to escape the Grim Reaper’s grasp for the rest of the film.
While it doesn’t push the franchise in a bold new direction, Final destination 3 benefits greatly from a new setting that adds a twisted sense of joy and fun to the whole spectacle. That’s why Reddit user cookiesshot picked it up, writing, “It goes without saying: ‘Final Destination 3,’ after all, is the ultimate survival movie for anyone who’s ever been afraid of roller coasters.
Hell’s Party (2018)
Many slasher films are defined more by their settings than anything else, and Hell’s Party is a prime example. It follows a group of teenagers who are chased by a masked man at a carnival. In an age of legacy reboots and sequels, Hell’s Party was a refreshing homage to classic slashers.
Reddit users like TheBrighterSkies singled it out for its classic approach and effective use of location, writing, “It’s a little derivative, but honestly worth it just for the festival setting.” As its title suggested, Hell’s Party is a fun ride with plenty of meat-themed scares.
Something Bad This Way Comes (1983)
Based on Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, this Disney film bombed upon initial release, but has since become a cult classic due to its magical atmosphere. It follows an evil carnival that wreaks havoc in a small Midwestern town, keeping the citizens under the influence of their leader, Mr. Dinner.
This movie doesn’t just use carnivals as a gimmick, it really twists the joyous innocence associated with carnivals and preys on innocence. That is why it is a powerful horror film for adults and children. Unfortunately, it’s a movie adaptation that’s still stuck in the shadow of the source material, as Reddit user Shirowoh writes “The book on the movie.”
31 (2015)
Perhaps because he grew up in a carnival lifestyle (via Ranker), Rob Zombie’s filmmaking style has always had a carnivalesque quality to it. After all, one of his most iconic villains, Captain Spaulding, is literally a clown. So it seemed natural for Zombie to make a horror movie inside a carnival, where the band of heroes are chased by chainsaw-wielding harlequins.
While not Zombie’s most acclaimed or famous work, 31 Zombie still embraces the style that drew many of his earlier films, and the carnival grounds are the perfect stage for his grindhouse theatrics. That’s why it’s easy pickings for Reddit users like Ecstatic_Acadia1759, who simply typed “31.”
Ghoulies II (1988)
the original Ghoulies was a surprise hit that capitalized on the small-critter-run-amok genre popularized by Gremlins. So a sequel was inevitable, but thankfully, the production team decided to change things by deciding Ghoulies II in an amusement park. This gave the titular creatures a great environment to let them play in.
The amusement park setting also put the audience in the perfect mindset, reminding them that they were in for a treat, not a thought-provoking masterpiece. That’s why Reddit users like tommy_wright_III picked it up, lovingly quoting one of the film’s most memorable moments, “Dude, your tunes!”
Hell House LLC (2015)
One of the most popular found footage footage of recent years, Hell House LLC follows a documentary crew that sets out to investigate a deadly accident that occurred in a haunted house. Clever and suspicious, Hell House LLC takes the cultural fascination surrounding haunted houses and immerses its audience in a tense but authentically conveyed nightmare.
Reddit user EnaGrimm argues that it’s a cut above the rest, writing: “I usually don’t get scared watching horror movies. I often want the villain to kill the dumb characters. but the hell house really scared me.” Anyone who is a fan of found or haunted houses should absolutely seek out this modern cult classic.
The Amusement Park (1975)
While technically too short to be a feature film, George Romero’s Amusement Park is too convenient not to include in this list. Rediscovered after supposedly lost, Amusement Park follows an elderly man who terrorizes the titular amusement park.
Romero always knew how to make the most of his locations, whether they were a shopping mall or an underground bunker. With the story tied to elder abuse, Romero takes what should be an innocent place of joy and turns it into an exercise in exhaustion and trauma. Reddit users like owleealeckza praise this rediscovered gem, writing, “It’s absolutely the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. Definitely a ‘once-only’ movie.”
The Funhouse (1981)
In the middle The Texas Chainsaw Massacre AND Poltergeistdirector Tobe Hooper made another spooky cult classic with it fun house, an atmospheric slasher that centers on a group of teenagers who are stalked by a deformed serial killer at a carnival.
More interested in suspense and evocative visuals than anger and sex, Fun house turns the amusement park premises into a nightmare world of sadists and psychopaths. It is a world of endless terror and a maze of bizarre images. It’s one of Hooper’s most famous films, which is why Reddit users like Sandbox_king, which simply translates to “the funhouse.”
Freaks (1932)
One of the oldest films in a fun part, Freaks was one of the most infamous horror films since its initial release due to the casting of disabled performers to make up the ensemble cast. While it is still a topic of controversy to this day, even the film’s critics cannot deny its power, or that it was one of the most haunting scenes of classic cinema.
The film follows a female gold digger who marries a sideshow performer for his money, leading her and her fellow outcasts to seek revenge. A horror movie unlike any other, Freaks it is still defiantly unique almost a century later. As Reddit user texasrigger says, “Freaks (1932) is the gold standard.”
Carnival of Souls (1962)
A pioneering independent horror film, Carnival of souls it was low budget, but high on creativity. It follows a traumatized woman who is drawn to an abandoned carnival where she is haunted by ghost-like figures. Usually, carnival settings set the stage for a fun time at the movies, but this carnival represents the endless fun house that is the human psyche.
While underrated in its day, Carnival of souls has steadily cultivated a wider audience. Now, it is a bona fide classic and a sympathizer of today’s psychological horror films. Reddit users like cireh88 were quick to sing his praises, sharing, “First I thought of.”
