Clown in a Cornfield is a fun slasher, following a group of high schoolers who become the target of a serial clown killer. Made for a micro budget, based on the trending novel by Adam Cesare, Clown in a Cornfield is a real fun time once it gets going. Many people call Clown in a Cornfield a “gateway horror” movie – an easy entry point into the genre for those looking to understand what it’s all about. To that point, I’d agree as it spends its first half checking off classic slasher tropes, but once the bodies start to drop, the movie elevates itself to a one bloody fun ride.
The movie’s first half is admittedly a slow burn to get through, as there is very little action after the Jaws-inspired opening kill scene. We are introduced to Quinn and her father, played by Katie Douglas and Aaron Abrams, respectively move to the sleepy conservative town of Kettle Springs. The movie does a good job of establishing the town as one that is trapped in time, refusing to advance with the modern times, as phones rarely have cell service, and the town celebrates its founding each year.
While the adults are happy living in the past by their traditions, the youth refuse to abide. Quinn is immediately adopted into a friend group consisting of troublemakers Cole, Janet, Matt, Ronnie, and Tucker, who run a YouTube channel that portrays the town’s mascot, Frendo the clown, as a serial killer. The kids and the adults consistently clash, as the adults blame Cole, the son of the mayor and bloodline of the town, as the cause of a factory fire that closed the town’s main source of employment. Again, the conflict between the young and older citizens is well developed as it is pivotal to the story, as hell begins to break loose.
The clash comes down to the ideas of change. Do you accept that times are changing and people will have to adapt and might be left behind, or do you reject modernity and shelter yourself in the places and times where you feel safe and comfortable? There is a good dialogue between Cole and his dad, the Mayor, played by Kevin Durand, where Cole says that if they were willing to just see where the kids were coming from and willing to listen and talk, then they’d be able to put aside their ideological differences and work together.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Frendo the Clown quickly has become an iconic horror movie killer. His design is incredibly sinister, but it also brought some comedy to the thrilling moments. The kills weren’t always the most creative, but they were quite brutal. The twist of Frendo caught me off guard, and I was completely sold on how the second half just went off the rails. The movie sets itself up for sequels, and given how popular the books have become, I am hoping they get made. These types of horror movies that are made for dirt cheap but pack a lot of heart, kills, and jokes are perfect for getting people invested in the genre without throwing them into the deep end. If you can, go see Clown in A Cornfield, you won’t regret it.
3.5/5
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I've always been a movie fan, but I first got big into cinema watching Whiplash when I was younger. That movie led to a greater appreciation of films and got me to dive into the medium. My favorite genre is horror movies, but I’ll always have a secret soft spot for rom coms and musicals. When I'm not podcasting or watching movies, I love working out and going hiking, and I currently work in business analytics with the degree I got from Western New England University.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: Good Will Hunting, Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse, Whiplash, Moneyball, Top Gun: Maverick