In the opening scene of "The Funhouse" (1981), Tobe Hooper pays massive tribute to the shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960) and the opening of John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978).
Here's a little comparison between these scenes:
A mysterious killer picks up a clown mask and puts it on. In both movies, the killer is actually a little boy.
Isn't it awesome that Hooper paid tribute to a movie that came out only 3 years before?
The mysterious killer enters the bathroom and 'kills' a young girl with a large knife.
Absolutely fantastic homage to Hitchcock's unique and outstanding shower scene.
Detailed FUNHOUSE review Here!
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Looking at those screenshots it looks like Hooper's homage to Hitchcock is dead-on. Pretty good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah, Hooper did a terrific job on this opening.
DeleteReally love this dude. Is this your first comparison write-up? Hope I've not been missing them. I think you should do these regularly, if you don't mind me saying that. It's been a really loooong time since I've watched Funhouse. Apparently too long because I don't even remember this. Freakin' awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt's my second comparison. Last year, I compared the very first Thing Prequel Trailer with Carpenter's Thing - but that's it. You're right, I should do this more often :)
DeleteHope you'll see it soon, I'm already excited for an epic Robocop review :)
Super cool! :D
ReplyDeleteWahoo, thanks Jen :)
DeleteOh, I love The Funhouse. And that Halloween/Psycho homage was always blatantly obvious but seeing the screenshots side by side, I really see the work Hooper put in to this tribute. Although I'm not really sure if, because the scenes are so similar, he was doing just a tribute or doing it to get a laugh from horror fans because it's exactly like Psycho, you know? Did that make any sense? I'm talking out of my butt.
ReplyDeleteGood work, buddy!
Im not a big fan of the movie, but I am a big fan of this excellent visual comparison! Nice one, Harry!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dudette :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. Maybe it's just a parody? I don't know. To me, it always looked like a homage.
@Craig:
ReplyDeleteThank you Craig, prepare for more comparisons in the future! :)
Great screen shot comparison for two flicks I adore. Hooper was dead on and I never thought about that until you pointed it out here. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAgain, thank you Mel!
ReplyDeleteYeeah, Hooper was dead on indeed. I adore this opening scene!