CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD Is a Slasher Circus

A group of small-town teens is tormented by a killer clown. Based on a novel of the same name, Clown in a Cornfield had so much potential to become a memorable slasher. And while it does boast an iconic foe, what’s delivered is a mediocre horror film that feels like a tonal circus, unable to figure out what it wants to be.

Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her father (Aaron Abrams) are new to Kettle Springs. It’s a quaint town, though the residents are still reeling from the closure of its once-successful Baypen Corn Syrup Factory. And its mascot, Frendo the Clown, remains a beloved symbol of the community.

At school, Quinn quickly becomes friendly with the popular kids, including Cole (Carson MacCormac). He and his friends stir up trouble, making horror shorts for YouTube starring the clown. But as the town’s Founders Day approaches, they’ll find that Frendo has taken on a terrifying new life.

Directed by Eli Craig, with a script co-written with Carter Blanchard, Clown in a Cornfield is a simple setup. It’s clear where it pulls inspiration from the slasher greats while delivering a frightening new villain. It also manages to balance classic tropes while subverting expectations. Yet there’s so much about this film that feels disjointed.

Tonally, the film is a frustrating blend. It begins with a more genuine tone (à la Halloween), where it has you believing this will be a straightforward slasher. But then it attempts to shift into comedy (à la Freaky), without consistency or the campy charm. This is only made worse by a ridiculously bland script and performances that are even more lifeless.

Even our “final girl” was quite underwhelming. She’s written to be so forgettable and dare I say, unlikable. As are the rest of the cast. While they are all meant to be mischievous and cocky, there’s still a way to write them where they are indelible to the audience. Take I Know What You Did Last Summer, where the characters are meant to be somewhat self-absorbed popular kids, but something about them is memorable, and you care when they inevitably meet their end. The only character that brought some interest to the scenes was Vincent Muller’s character Rust, who is the school “weirdo”, but only because his trajectory is somewhat predictable.

Films like Happy Death Day or the previously mentioned Freaky have such a zany punch to both the writing and the performances. It’s what makes those films so amusing and allows them to flourish in the slasher space, but also comedically. I do think the film redeems itself at times with some schlocky kills, and it certainly isn’t afraid to be cutthroat and gory with them. Even more entertaining when the film leans into its quirkiness.

I’m not sure why Clown in a Cornfield was holding back from just going all in on a black comedy slasher direction, but had they leaned in from the start, perhaps we could have had a sharper script that brought energy and excitement to the story.

Clown in a Cornfield is by no means a complete wash. I think it has some great elements and a striking villain, but it didn’t quite fully succeed in horror or comedy in a cohesive sense. It also left little desire in its ending, which felt like a sloppy way to open doors for a sequel. If you enjoyed Eli Roth’s 2023 film Thanksgiving, you may find this one amusing, though it’s missing the conviction that film had.

Clown in a Cornfield hits theaters May 9