Funland | |
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Directed by | Michael A. Simpson |
Written by | Michael A. Simpson |
Screenplay by | Michael A. Simpson Bonnie Turner Terry Turner |
Starring |
David L. Lander William Windom |
Music by | James Oliverio |
Cinematography | William Vanderkloot |
Distributed by | Double Helix Films RMC Films |
Release date
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Running time
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98 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Funland is a 1987 American dark comedy film written by Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner and directed by Michael A. Simpson. It follows a disgruntled clown who takes revenge on the staff of an amusement park who fired him. It was filmed at a Six Flags outside Austell, Georgia.
Funland is a family-oriented amusement park owned by the eccentric Angus Perry. Niel Stickney, the clown mascot and one of the founders of the park and its former accountant, suffered a nervous breakdown and his grip on reality is slowly deteriorating. After the mob kills Angus and takes over the park, Stickney begins to have increasingly bizarre hallucinations, including envisioning the patrons of the park cafeteria spontaneously breaking into song and dance and seeing visions of the dead Angus. He then begins to believe himself to be his clown persona, Bruce Burger. After the new mafia management fires him, he finally snaps. He steals a briefcase containing a rifle, intending to kill his replacement and reclaim the theme park. While firing the gun the mob bosses two sons recognize the sound and investigate. Bruce then shoots and kills the mob bosses son in self defense. The film ends with Neil Stickney (Bruce Burger) owning and running the park.
Funland was scarcely noticed at the time of its release but it has since become a cult film. It was released on VHS and, in 2004, DVD, but both have since gone out of print. The film can be found online.