Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Another Shudder production makes its way to a theatrical release before it hits streaming. “Clown in a Cornfield” is based on a book, where a fading midwestern town has lost its luster. A doctor and his daughter, Quinn, move to the area for his new assignment. As they get familiar with the town’s history and desire to return to its glory days, they quickly realize something is off. As the town approaches its local holiday, a creepy clown emerges and starts killing people off. Can Quinn and her new friends figure out the reason for this clown’s murderous rampage? Or will they be next on his list?
Positives:
I expected a fairly straightforward slasher with “Clown in a Cornfield”. While it follows the formula of a standard slasher for the first half, it manages to play with audience expectations in the latter half. It continues the recent trend of comedy infused slashers. It’s not personally my favorite blend of genres but the film executes the concept well enough. It plays with the concept of old vs. new age thinking. There is a clear gap between the way the younger generations of the town perceive the world vs. how the older generation wants the town to be. I enjoyed seeing how director Eli Craig examines these different perspectives, poking fun at how both sides may be stubborn. I’ve experienced situations where different generations differ on their view of the world we live in, especially growing up in the midwest where the film takes place. Seeing a town want to preserve their culture and history is something relatable to many midwest towns. At the same time, finding ways to innovate and recruit new residents is something they might struggle to achieve. This concept is relatable and is examined well.
Not only do the timely themes resonate but the infusion of it into the killer’s motivations is clever. Frendo the Clown is seemingly the town’s mascot, reminding residents of the bygone era of abundant corn syrup production. Once the killer reveal happens, lots of the motivation and thematic analysis going on becomes clear. The kills are quite creative too. Frendo the Clown uses some cool weapons that a rural clown might use (Scythe, pitchfork, chainsaw, etc). There are plenty of bloody kills to go around for slasher fans. The film is certainly going to get a sequel as there are three books in the series. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Negatives:
“Clown in a Cornfield” is worth a watch but it doesn’t demand to be seen on the big screen. It feels like a streaming movie so no need to rush out to the theaters to catch a showing. Unfortunately some of its special effects and production pieces feel small budget, so it’s clear where the filmmakers had restraints. But I commend them for piecing together a film that is still entertaining despite these limitations. I’ve seen other comments about the film having a big twist/reveal at the halfway point, turning into a film that is different and fresh. I saw the twist coming from a mile away due to the themes within the story. The reveal and motivation behind Frendo’s massacre is choreographed obviously. I don’t think the second half is that much stronger than the first but it does provide a few surprises.
Conclusion:
As summer blockbuster season ramps up, “Clown in a Cornfield” doesn’t forget about the horror fans. It has some timely commentary about generational gaps and rust belt towns, managing to provide a clever story within the bloodshed. Although its twist is predictable and the limited budget shows, there is enough fun here to warrant a watch. Check it out on streaming once it hits Shudder.
