REVIEW: ‘Funhouse,’ starring Valter Skarsgård, arrives on DVD and VOD
Photo: It’s up to these characters to gather social media likes or face the consequences. Photo courtesy of Magnet / Provided by official site.
Funhouse, the new horror movie from Magnolia Home Entertainment, serves as a commentary on reality television, social media, voyeurism and how far an audience is willing to go when watching real-life horror play out in front of their eyes. Unfortunately, as its offers this social commentary, the movie simultaneously takes part in voyeuristic thrills and chills that undercut its message.
Here’s the premise: Several social media stars join a new reality series that finds them moving to a mansion in the woods to compete in a number of unique contests. Their guides for the strange experiment are mysterious figures who wear panda masks. This narrative structure, sans the panda masks, should be familiar because something like 10 shows on television have a similar outline. The difference here is that the challenges within this house turn bloody. Each member needs to rack up social media points (likes, follows, impressions, etc.) in order to stay away from the bottom of the pack. If a guest falls to the bottom of the social media list, that person meets an unceremonious end.
Throughout the story, penned by Jason William Lee, who also pulls double duty as the director, each character has a few moments of unique individualism, but the audience never gets to know them on an intimate level, which is saying something because their entire lives are intimately broadcast to the TV fans who tune in to watch their exploits. The protagonist is Kasper (Valter Skarsgård, of the Skarsgård acting dynasty), who joins the reality project because he needs to shed a bad reputation after breaking it off with his ex in a very public way. He’s the only person who receives an adequate backstory and narrative arc.
This reviewer did appreciate the slick villainy of Jerome Velinksy’s character. He’s the mastermind behind the entire deathtrap, and he exudes a certain Patrick Bateman privilege and nonchalance. The rest of the supporting cast doesn’t get enough time in the spotlight to stand out.
The contestants are eventually dispatched one by one, and their final scenes are quite bloody, tortuous and violent to watch. The camera pulls away before too much damage is seen, but the message is clear: Lose this contest and die a horrible death.
Funhouse simply doesn’t work as a social commentary or effective horror movie, and it runs 15 minutes too long. There are also clear parallels to other films, including Would You Rather with Jeffrey Combs. Because the film showcases the same techniques it’s supposedly criticizing, the entire affair feels needless and hypocritical.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Funhouse (2021). Written and directed by Jason William Lee. Starring Valter Skarsgård. Running time: 106 minutes. Not rated. Rating: 
