Clown in a Cornfield (2025)
Directed by: Eli Craig
Premise: An adaptation of the novel by Adam Cesare. Teenagers in a rural midwestern town are stalked by a killer clown.
What Works: There is a brand of horror film that aficionados of the genre refer to as “gateway horror.” It’s a kind of film that’s accessible to viewers who are new to the genre. It’s not too scary or too gory and can act as an introduction to horror. Clown in a Cornfield fits that description. It is intense enough to engage new viewers without scaring them off. Audiences who are familiar with the horror genre may find Clown in a Cornfield to be fun in a different way. Like filmmaker Eli Craig’s earlier pictures Little Evil and Tucker and Dale vs Evil, Clown in a Cornfield is intended as an homage to the horror films of the 1980s and 90s and fans ought to enjoy the references. Clown in a Cornfield begins as a straightforward slasher picture but about halfway through the story takes a turn and redirects the story into something a little more interesting. The film has strong sense of place. The town of Clown in a Cornfield has been decimated since the local food manufacturing plant closed and the community is depressed. The production design has a convincingly glum look. But the film also has a sense humor that makes the picture accessible.
What Doesn’t: Clown in a Cornfield is intended as a throwback to the slasher films of the 1980s and 90s but it doesn’t quite deliver on the appeals of those films. These teen-based horror films often operated in stereotypes with the characters filling a particular slot. It seems like the filmmaker tried to evade stereotypes but those canned characterizations aren’t replaced with anything. Most of these young people lack distinguishing characteristics. Retro slashers also traditionally made heroes out of unpopular or marginal characters while the cool kids usually got killed. The teens of Clown in a Cornfield are supposedly persona non grata around town and are constantly in trouble with the law, their teachers, and other authority figures. The trouble is, the casting and costuming don’t really support that image. This crew of teenage characters are all very attractive and clean cut; they look and act like the in-crowd instead of outsiders. Clown in a Cornfield also pulls its punches in the scares and the gore. There is some blood and carnage, enough to earn an R rating, but the violence is staged awkwardly and the filmmakers avoid the viscera that is usually central to these movies and their appeal.
Bottom Line: Clown in a Cornfield is a mostly average horror picture. It’s a decent gateway horror film. Seasoned genre viewers may find it lacking but Clown in a Cornfield is exciting enough and humorous enough to entertain.
Episode: #1048 (May 18, 2025)