Funland (1987)

When a mob family takes over an amusement park after the owner dies under mysterious circumstances, the recently-fired clown mascot seeks vengeance for the loss of his job.

Director:

Michael A. Simpson

Writers:

Michael A. Simpson (screenplay), Bonnie Turner (screenplay)

Stars:

William Windom, David L. Lander, Bruce Mahler

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Windom	...	Angus Perry
David L. Lander	...	Bruce Burger
Bruce Mahler	...	Mike Spencer
Robert Sacchi	...	Mario DiMauro / Bogie
Clark Brandon	...	Doug Sutterfield
Jill Carroll	...	Denise Wilson
Michael McManus	...	T. G. Hurley (as Mike McManus)
Mary Beth McDonough	...	Kristin Cumming (as Mary McDonough)
Terry Beaver	...	Carl DiMauro
Lane Davies	...	Chad Peller
Richard Reiner	...	Larry DiMauro
Bonnie Turner	...	Darlene Dorkner
Jan Hooks	...	Shelly Willingham
Randal Patrick	...	Chip Cox
Gene Murrell	...	Randy Grossman

Storyline

Funland is about to open for the new season, and we follow several employees through the rituals of opening the park for the season. Owner Angus Perry refuses to sell the land to a shady development company. A few days later, he's found dead, and the company, headed by Maurio DeMauro, buys up his shares. Concerned only for the profit margin, they start to cut costs and install less family-oriented rides. No one is more upset by this than clown mascot Bruce Burger. Once park accountant Neil Stickney, and one of the founder of the park, he suffered a nervous breakdown, and was kept on by Perry out of pity, he has started to believe he really IS Bruce Burger, and considers himself and Stickney separate people. When a prima donna named Chad Peller is hired to replace him, Burger starts to lose his tenuous grip on reality. He is soon visited by Perry's ghost, who tells him he was murdered. Enraged, Burger plots to take down the park, but decides to first get rid of his replacement...

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Plot Keywords:

clown | amusement park | mafia | one word title | independent film | 

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Taglines:

Where a clown can get away with murder.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed at Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta.

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Quotes

Darlene Dorkner: I'm a graduate of State University. I also attended the David Lee Roth University where I studied rear projection.

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Soundtracks

Mr. Clown
Written by Tim Miller
Performed by Tim Miller

User Reviews

Intended as comedy, neither action nor horror

I'm sure many people sit down to watch this film expecting horror. Although the chintzy tagline does suggest an even chintzier slasher flick, this movie rises above that genre. It's not a slasher flick at all, which is just fine. If anything, I would definitely classify this film in the Dark Comedy genre. It's almost an amusing and mocking look at insanity. The story is an interesting one, and a very creative one at that. Watch it if you enjoy a good chuckle, but not if you're looking for some cheap gore or contrived "pop-out" scare tactics. Prepare yourself for lots and lots of ethnic stereotyping, but done in such a way that it mocks those who actually believe in such stereotypes. The thing that makes this film a dark comedy is not only its ability to poke fun at bigots by catering to their ridiculous beliefs, but also at the utter random (and often crude) humor. If you enjoy films like Better Off Dead and I Love You to Death, it's almost guaranteed that you'll like this movie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Peligroso carnaval

Filming Locations:

Six Flags Over Georgia - 7561 Six Flags Parkway, Austell, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Double Helix Films, RMC Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1