With the first trailer dropped for Terrifier 2, fans will be seeing the return of one of cinema's nastiest clowns. For some reason, clowns have captivated genre fans for decades, which is why they've thoroughly enjoyed horror flicks set in amusement parks and carnivals.
There's been a number of carnivel-esque horror movies over the years, so Redditors have been discussing the best thrillers to be set on festival grounds, such as The Funhouse to Final Destination 3. These films don't have to be set solely in amusement parks, but they need to have at least one memorable sequence in the aforementioned setting.
Final Destination 3 (2006)
The Final Destination films have always been centered around a major, highly inventive sequence of destruction. The third installment chose to have its death-defying set-piece take place on a roller coaster, forcing the few survivors to try and 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 highly benefits from a new setting that adds a twisted sense of cheer and fun to the whole spectacle. That's why Reddit user cookiesshot chose it, writing, "Goes without saying: "Final Destination 3," After all, it's the ultimate survival film for anybody that's had a fear of roller coasters.
Hell Fest (2018)
Many slasher films are defined more by their settings than anything else, and Hell Fest is a prime example. It follows a group of teens that are stalked by a masked man through a carnival. In an age of reboots and legacy sequels, Hell Fest was a refreshing homage to classic slashers.
Reddit users like TheBrighterSkies chose it because of its classic approach and its effective use of the locale, writing, "It’s a little derivative but it’s honestly worth it just for the festival setting alone." Like its title would suggest, Hell Fest is a fun ride with a plentiful amount of carny-themed scares.
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Based on the classic novel by Ray Bradbury, this Disney film bombed upon initial release but has since become a cult classic due to its spell-bending atmosphere. It follows a sinister carnival that causes havoc upon a small Midwestern town, holding the citizens under the influence of their ringmaster, Mr. Dark.
This film doesn't just use the carnivals as a gimmick, but it truly perverts the joyful innocence associated with carnivals and preys upon innocence. That's why it's a powerful horror film for both adults and children. Unfortunately, it's a film adaptation that's still stuck in the shadow of its source material, as Reddit user Shirowoh writes "The book over the movie."
31 (2015)
Probably because he grew up in a carnival lifestyle (via Ranker), Rob Zombie's filmmaking style has always had a carnival-esque quality to it. After all, one of his most iconic villains, Captain Spaulding, is literally a clown. So it only seemed natural for Zombie to make a horror movie inside a carnival, where the band of heroes is chased by chainsaw-wielding harlequins.
While it's not Zombie's most acclaimed or celebrated work, 31 still has Zombie embracing the style that's attracted many to his previous films, and the carnival grounds are the perfect stage for his grindhouse theatrics. That's why it's an easy choice for Reddit users like Ecstatic_Acadia1759, who simply writes "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 switch things up by setting Ghoulies II at an amusement park. That provided the titular creatures with a great setting to let them play around in.
The amusement park setting also put audiences in the perfect mindset, reminding them that they were for a joyride, not a thought-provoking masterpiece. That's why Reddit users like tommy_wright_III chose it, affectionately quoting one of the film's more memorable moment, “Dude, your tunes!”
Hell House LLC (2015)
One of the more acclaimed found-footage flicks of recent years, Hell House LLC follows a documentary crew that sets out to investigate a lethal accident that took place in a haunted house. Clever and suspenseful, Hell House LLC takes the cultural fascination surrounding haunted houses and plunges its audience into 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. often i root for the villain to kill the dumb characters. but damn hell house really scared me." Anybody who's a fan of either found-footage or haunted houses should absolutely seek out this modern cult classic.
The Amusement Park (1975)
While technically too short to be a feature-length film, George Romero's The Amusement Park is too fitting to not include on this list. Having been rediscovered after supposedly being lost, The Amusement Park follows an elderly man who becomes terrorized in the titular amusement park.
Romero always knew how to make the most out of his locations, whether they be a shopping mall or an underground bunker. With the story linked to elder abuse, Romero takes what should be an innocent place of joy and turns it into a trippy, grueling exercise in trauma. Reddit users like owleealeckza appreciate this rediscovered gem, writing, "It's absolutely the most terrifying film I've ever watched. Definitely an "only watched once" film."
The Funhouse (1981)
In between The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist, director Tobe Hooper made another spooky cult classic with The Funhouse, an atmospheric slasher that centers on a group of teens being stalked by a deformed serial killer at a carnival.
More interested in suspense and evocative visuals rather than gore and sex, The Funhouse turns its amusement park settings into a nightmarish world of sadists and psychopaths. It's a world of never-ending terror and a labyrinth of bizarro imagery. It's one of Hooper's most celebrated films, which is why Reddit users like Sandbox_king, who simply states "the funhouse."
Freaks (1932)
One of the older movies at an amusement part, Freaks was one of the most infamous horror films upon its initial release due to its casting of disabled performers to make up the ensemble cast. While it's still a subject of controversy to this day, even the film's detractors can't deny its power, or that it was one of the most haunting scenes of classic cinema.
The film follows a gold-digging woman who marries a sideshow performer for his money, leading he and his fellow outcasts to seek revenge. A horror movie unlike any other, Freaks is still defiantly unique almost a century later. As Reddit user texasrigger puts it, "Freaks (1932) is the gold standard."
Carnival of Souls (1962)
A pioneering film of independent horror, Carnival of Souls was low on budget but high on creativity. It follows a traumatized woman that becomes drawn to an abandoned carnival where she's haunted by phantom-like figures. Usually, carnivals settings set the stage for a fun time at the movies, but this carnival represents the endless funhouse that is the human psyche.
While it was underappreciated in its day, Carnival of Souls has steadily cultivated a wider audience. Now, it's a bona-fide classic and a peregrinator to the psychological horror films of today. Reddit users like cireh88 were ready to sing its praises, sharing, "First one I thought of."