FILM REVIEW: Clown in a Cornfield (2025)
- Joseph
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Clown in a Cornfield - New Release Review
Director: Eli Craig
Starring: Katie Douglas, Vincent Muller, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand, Will Sasso
Written by: Carter Blanchard, Eli Craig
Produced by: Marty Bowen, Terry Douglas, John Fischer, Wyck Godfrey, Paris Kassidokostas Latsis, Isaac Klausner
Cinematography by: Brian Pearson
Original Score by: Brandon Roberts, Marcus Trumpp
Synopsis:
Terror strikes a fading midwestern town when Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge.
Thoughts:
Why are we afraid of clowns? Is it their exaggerated features?. The feeling of unease that something sinister lies under the innocence of their makeup? Or is it the unpredictability in their behaviour when they try to evoke laughter. In horror the most obvious example of coulrophobia stems from Tim Curry's iconic performance of Pennywise in the TV miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King novel 'It'. The manner in which he lured children to their death by changing his demeanor from charming to deadly in an instant traumatised children (and some adults) upon its release. It's legacy persists right up to today with the remake being a phenomenal success at the box office (with a spin off series due for release later this year) and you can't scroll through Tubi without seeing dozens of killer clown movies trying to cash in on this fear with cheap scares.
The latest killer clown movie comes in the form of 'Clown in a Cornfield', an adaptation of Adam Cesare's novel of the same title. Looking for a fresh start in life after the death of her mother, teenager Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her father Glenn (Aaron Abrams) move to the town of Kettle Springs, Missouri. Once a thriving town thanks to the success of Baypen Corn Syrup it has now fallen on hard times after the factory that produced it burns down. It has created a tension between the older and younger generations that culminates in a killer dressed as the Baypen mascot Frendo picking off the teens of the town one by one at the Founders Day after party.
In a genre where originality is hard to come by, it takes a lot of work to try and set yourself apart from similar fare and although there are flourishes of the film trying to set itself apart or to have a particular message, it doesn't do enough to even come close to the greatness of the best of the genre. What set Cesare's novel apart was how the majority of it felt like the third act of a typical slasher that contained a lot of chaotic energy in a similar fashion to the 2022 slasher, 'Sick'. With that kind of template the film should have been a rollercoaster of thrills and kills but sadly it maintains a typical three act structure making it feel very ordinary. It makes for what is a functional if not predictable watch even though there are some flourishes of humour and small subversions of the expectations of the genre that make it a relatively entertaining watch.
When the film really finally lets rip at the farmhouse party after the Founder's Day celebrations there is an injection of life that was lacking in its opening half as chainsaws, pitchforks and all manners of blunt instruments are used to butcher and maim the rebellious teens of Kettle Springs. What they lack in tension they more than make up for with some crowd pleasing chaos that makes you question where this energy was earlier in the film, as the opening feels like a checklist where the boxes are slowly being ticked off.
The cast of teens who engage in making their own slasher movies for Youtube are likeable enough but like so many other similar slashers there is no real development for them to make them stand out or make you care too much about them or their fate. They are for the most part nothing more than victims waiting for their moment to be brutally killed off. Slightly more attention is given to the older members of the cast with Kevin Durand chewing up scenery at every turn as Arthur Hill, a prominent figure in Kettle Springs which helps lift the film.
One of the ideas that becomes pronounced during the third act of the film is its commentary on the clash between progressive youth versus conservative elders. With such a drawn out opening in the film there was an opportunity to flesh out this idea because whilst it is an interesting concept, it is one that only appears in flashes leaving it to have little to no impact. There is also a subplot involving sexual identity late on in the film which is a welcome twist on conventions but again it feels tacked on instead of flowing naturally within the main story.
'Clown in a Cornfield' feels like a traditional slasher with unfulfilled potential. It is cookie cutter fare that'll work well for general audiences but in keeping too much with the tropes of the genre it does more harm than good making for a forgettable film.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️½
-Joseph McElroy
'Clown in a Cornfield' is in Irish & UK cinemas from June 6th
Comentários