Clown in a Cornfield is one of those goofy, more comedy than horror, slasher films that could be forgotten after the first watch or end up becoming a genre cult classic. This one leans more toward the one and done, but that one watching will be entertaining for fans of teen driven stab and grabs.
Synopsis: Quinn and her father have just moved to the quiet town of Kettle Springs hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she discovers a fractured community that has fallen on hard times after the treasured Baypen Corn Syrup Factory burned down. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, a sinister, grinning figure emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time. Welcome to Kettle Springs. The real fun starts when Frendo the clown comes out to play. | 1h 36m | R – for bloody horror violence, language throughout and teen drinking
CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD opens nationwide Friday, May 9th.
The film is not as fulfilling as the premise. Nothing is scarier than a clown. And nothing gives off horror vibes like a cornfield. Clown in a Cornfield is the peanut butter and jelly of movie titles. Frendo the clown is no Pennywise but sinister enough. Until the third act. Then the movie takes a Scooby Doo turn that we all should have saw coming. To be honest that tone of light hearted horror is always welcomed in a world were the news is scarier than anything.
Regardless of what generation you cut your slasher teeth on there is nothing that stands the test of time like Teens vs. Adults. Kids are always trying to shake off their boredom and adults complain about their every move. Many of us started off siding with the teens but as we get older we discover that we are now the annoyed adults, and those kids, “definitely had it coming”.
Even with the use of technology, social media posts, and viral videos this one still feels very nostalgic. The use of small town America and rural doldrums helps take us back to a slower time. Frendo too feels like a long ago character that could have popped out of a cornfield in the 70s or 80s as easy as today. Heck, maybe he did.
It is directed by Eli Craig who also led the team for Tucker and Dale vs Evil. Though this one is not nearly as humor driven, it still has that implausible aspect around every turn. Slasher films are more about the way the kills happen than if it could really be done that way. This movie certainly leans hard into the over the top deaths. That is fine and actually ups the campy fun. Other than some jump scares there is little about this that is actually frightening. Unless of course clowns just freak you out in general. If you get creeped out by 1970’s McDonalds commercials this is not the film for you.
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