Movies

A generic teens-in-peril slasher, ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ can’t cut the crop

BBG News

Is there anything as consistently reliable as the slasher formula? It undergoes changes, fades, and reappears across cultural shifts but persists; adaptable yet robust, often lowbrow (but not always), it only needs a handful of essential components: some teenagers and a masked murderer. A small town could be involved. Swap the outfits and the tools and it’s almost ready to go. “Clown in a Cornfield” is one such example, directed by Eli Craig, from the film “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil”.

In this horror movie, a killer clown carries out its title’s promise: it terrorizes teens who misbehave in Kettle Springs, Missouri, tearing them apart brutally. The film starts with a prologue from 1991 that sets the tone for our amusement: a character finds a large footprint in the wet soil and discovers the clown’s presence when its shoes squeak as it stabs an unlucky victim.

This movie stands out because it’s based on a 2020 horror novel by Adam Cesare. The novel lends an added depth to what could have been a typical, forgettable film in the genre. However, while hints at its backstory and generational history are provided, they aren’t fully fleshed out on screen. The screenplay was co-written by Craig and Carter Blanchard, and it follows the pattern of surprise revelations and plot twists common to this kind of film.

Craig exhibits an introspective demeanor along with a respectful approach to the conventions of the genre, much like Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving.” Although Craig may not possess Roth’s exuberant and macabre ingenuity in kill scenes, his teen characters are more engaging, particularly Katie Douglas as Quinn. Newcomer Quinn shifts to Kettle Springs with her physician father (Aaron Abrams) and quickly befriends a clique of popular peers who produce horror videos featuring their town’s mascot, Frendo, from the corn syrup factory, on their phones.

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In a small town with a rich history, Quinn develops feelings for Cole (Carson MacCormac), the descendant of the town’s founders. Each year, they commemorate this history through the Founder’s Day parade, highlighting Frendo’s famous likeness. However, it appears that things take a turn for the worse as soon as Quinn arrives. Teenagers begin mysteriously dying, and menacing clowns start their chainsaws. It’s hard to discern at first what is genuine and what could be an intricate joke.

In the horror film “Clown in a Cornfield,” there’s an underlying idea about young people and their reliance on smartphones, with life often being experienced through screens and constant cameras. However, the movie doesn’t fully explore this topic effectively. In today’s world where it’s becoming harder to distinguish reality from illusion, particularly on our phones, a more nuanced narrative is seldom presented. Instead, the film focuses on traditional gore scenes and grandiose villain monologues.

Clown in a Cornfield” – A Fluffy Entertainer

The movie “Clown in a Cornfield” is undeniably fun, yet it holds as much substance as a corn puff. Douglas delivers an amusing and spirited performance that keeps the audience engaged, while MacCormac matches her step for step. Will Sasso and Kevin Durand add delight to the cast as some of the town’s peculiar elders who exhibit strange aggression. The film occasionally veers into “Scooby-Doo” territory, but Craig manages to keep it moving at a brisk pace. This is a lighthearted, breezy production with a few unexpected turns, some social commentary that doesn’t always resonate, and not enough lasting impact to be indelibly memorable. However, since Cesare has already published two sequel novels featuring Frendo the Clown, there’s plenty more to look forward to!

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2025-05-09 20:31

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