First time seeing it, all I can think about is how much USA has changed.

They did not even have Dial Up America Online during the filming of The Funhouse, let alone Facebook and Instagram.

Great post, jake. I turned 16 in 1981 and know exactly what you're talking about.

By the way, I had never seen The Funhouse until today. Pretty good flick -- well made and certainly better written than most slasher flicks of that era. Damn ruthless at times, too.

Gonna listen to the commentary with Hooper later on. I've heard a couple of his before, and they were very entertaining.

I appreciate that you noticed this as well, the only upside I could see in having a cell phone back then would be for taking nude pics, though the Polaroid did just fine for that.. No seriously, cell phones have ruined everything in my humble opinion

Well put. Im 31 and envy the days before social media. We are more then only human anymore and for worse. anyways watching this movie now and love the atmosphere one of my favorites. Cheers.

'Like holy *beep* I was born in 1991..... the 80's looked like great times... at least the way I see it. '
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You were born in 91' and speak about how things have changed? Yet, I see no parallel between using cell phones, texting, facebook, and appreciating attention from guys. Human nature didn't all of a sudden change due to tech

..I was born in 1991..... the 80's looked like great times... at least the way I see it.
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It was in interesting decade and if into horror movies, they had some of the best and interesting. Things were still new, original and in inceptive phases, and while human nature can be pretty much the same, attitudes and certain values placed on things, may have been a little different. Things may not have been so pc or taken for granted. Yes, both the 2 girls in this were sweet and\or likeable at the least and the film has oodles of atmosphere.


Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

'Look how stoked these girls were to go to the carnival with these guys...... no cell phones, no texting, facebook Instagram.... Girls used to appreciate attention from guys.... the lead actress was so sweet, do they even make girls like that anymore?'

'Is there such thing as a beautiful woman who doesn't have her face buried in a cellphone with texts, snaps, and updates from a bunch of horny guys?'
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is there such as thing as boys/men who don't do the same?

You sure that you're not scapegoating technology, with cell=phones being the cause of "beautiful" women not paying attention to guys? A cell=phone is not a substitute for a man. In 1981, beautiful women were not necessarily interested in a given man either, with or without a cell=phone/texting. Some women are just not stoked by a man, regardless.

A thing that I can notice is how trends and fashion were changing so fast in the late 70s and early 80s, so that one year could be very different from the previous in music, fashion etc. The film was released in April 1981 but filming happened in March - May 1980, and everything was still "very 70s". I just can't see "80s" nowhere in this movie. I bet that at the release time many things were already "outdated". lol