Clown in a Cornfield carves up slasher goodness with Frendo the Clown as he terrorizes a group of teenagers in Eli Craig’s latest film that is never short on thrills, gore filled kills that both shock and provide fresh ways to die for the genre, and laughter in what is destined to become a new fan favourite slasher.

 

Moviegoers have a complicated relationship with clowns, with many of cinema’s most infamous clowns being part of the horror genre and have been the haunting viewers for years. Whether it be the terrifying Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King’s IT, the killer clowns from Killer Clowns from Outer Space, or Art from the Terrifier franchise, clowns have always been causing bloody mayhem on the big screen. And while his name may sound friendly, Frendo is anything but. Joining the cinematic pantheon of horror clowns and conjuring up a slasher that calls back to titles within the subgenre of the 1980s, Eli Craig has conjured up one wickedly fun time while adapting Adam Cesare’s Clown in a Cornfield for the big screen. Never for a second short of gore and kill sequences that will have fans of the slasher genre giddy with excitement, not only is Clown in a Cornfield one entertaining outing for horror fans this summer at the movies, but hopefully the start of a new horror series.

 

It’s not often that you find a film of this size or one that is this prominent, given the film’s source material, that is an entirely Canadian production. A Canadian based director, an all Canadian cast and crew, and shot on location in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it is a moment of true national pride… especially considering how well crafted the film is! Eli Craig’s direction effortlessly captures the spirit of the slasher genre, creating a slick and frighteningly fun experience for audiences. With strong cinematography that captures the chaos that unfolds during the night time in the film’s second half, plunging the characters and viewers into darkness, but also paints this small town with a darkness in its lack of colour and low saturation that echoes the visual style of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the film’s visual palette sets the tone for what is to unfold. Bolstering strong practical effects that bring to life each of Frendo’s glorious violent and startling kills, copious amounts of fake blood and makeup and prosthetics work give life to Frendo’s murderous rampage. It all ensures that every kill is both wildly entertaining and chilling, that combined with the rest of the technical aspects of the film, creates one worthy slasher film that leaves audiences feeling splattered with blood. 

 

As the slasher genre has a very well established and successful narrative formula, Clown in a Cornfield does not have to stray far from it to create an entertaining film. With kills scattered throughout the film, with each one getting more outrageous and grotesque, horror fans are going to be more than satisfied as a whole. There is one significant plot twist halfway through the film, that while not being overly shocking given what Craig and his co-writer Carter Blanchard were thematically laying the groundwork for in the film’s first half, helps make for a more deadly second half as our main characters attempt to survive Frendo’s wrath. The film itself never strays far from the subgenre’s  formula, but the exploration of small town isolationist views and tradition with the infusion of a queer narrative that helps to build the film’s central conflict, a classic feeling slasher unfolds on screen with an inherent modern flavour and undeniable self-awareness of the subgenre’s tropes that not only entertains, but is going to speak to younger horror fans. And with more novels to adapt and the tease that Frendo’s influence is still looming over Kettle Springs, fans can be hopeful that Craig and his team will return with sequels over the coming years.

 

Leading the film is Katie Douglas as Quinn, effortlessly channeling the energy of many famous final girls before her. With a rebellious teenage attitude that not only has her at odds with her caring father but with the townsfolk of Kettle Springs, Douglas becomes a strong lead for the film and a worthy opponent for Frendo and his murderous rampage. The rest of the young cast portraying Quinn’s friends comprised of Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, Cassandra Potenza, Verity Marks, Alexandre Martin Deakin and Ayo Solanke are all great, capturing their rebellious teenage characters who are resistant to the image that their parents and the town are trying to shape them into, while also becoming great prey for Frendo and bringing to life the horror elements of the film during their encounters with the murderous clown.