CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD
Starring: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, Kevin Durand, and Will Sasso
Director: Eli Craig
KATIE
Clown in a Cornfield is a slasher film I would recommend to those who don’t like slashers. From the outset, it self-consciously employs tropes in an effort to take a modern approach to the genre, with satisfying and creative kills that don’t indulge in the exploitative gendered violence common of its predecessors. The performances are great, striking a balance between seriousness and B-movie excess, and I laughed out loud more than a few times. However, the mystery surrounding the clown is obvious early on, and it needlessly over-explains itself in the final act.
BODE
Director Eli Craig made a name for himself over a decade ago with Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, a loving parody that took many clichés associated with horror and twisted them on their head, providing plenty of laughs and gore in the process. Clown in a Cornfield sees Craig taking a somewhat more serious (but still self-aware) approach, and though it never really elevates itself beyond its YA trappings (especially in its generational commentary) or its televisual lensing, it’s still a fun enough slasher that delivers what it promises: a clown, a big cornfield and some old-fashioned bloody mayhem.
NICK
I will give Clown in a Cornfield credit for trying something outside the box because this isn’t your typical slasher. That doesn’t mean it's good, though. Yes, it’s filled with forgettable performances and pedestrian kills, but the biggest sin is the way the premise is fumbled. What could have been a fun meta angle just turns into a campy adaptation of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even with that direction, however, there was still a chance to salvage it if only Frendo had an Art the Clown aura, but it’s not even close. Just another forgettable antagonist in another forgettable horror film.
ROBERT
I appreciate the newfound recognition that B-level actors have regarding the worthiness of starring in or contributing to a fun horror experience like Clown in a Cornfield. It checks all the boxes: clowns, murder, cornfields. But beyond that, it is easy and breezy enough to stay inoffensive. It is super tropey and some of the best jokes are spoiled in the trailer, but if you rode for Thanksgiving, you will find value in this effort. Just remember, the real villain isn’t the homicidal clown, but high fructose corn syrup.
