(KTLA) — Ever heard of “Halfoween”? Whereas the precise day of this “halfway point to Halloween” fluctuates, it is usually someday across the very finish of April and the very starting of Could. So proper now is definitely the right time for some massive display screen scares — and Eli Craig’s “Clown in a Cornfield,” which hits theaters Friday, has precisely sufficient chills to get the spooky enjoyable going.
The movie, primarily based on Adam Cesare’s novel of the identical title, follows protagonist Quinn (Katie Douglas, Netflix’s “Ginny & Georgia”) as she and her father relocate from Philadelphia to the agricultural Kettle Springs, Missouri — a crumbling nation city struggling following the unlucky closure of the city’s main employer. Many on the town blame the hearth on the group of teenagers, a pack of social media pranksters, Quinn finally befriends.
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Although Quinn and her father (Aaron Abrams) hope Kettle Springs might be the vibrational reboot after her mom’s current loss of life, issues in Kettle Springs are bleak and shortly, lethal.
However there’s extra to “Clown in a Cornfield” than a killer clown. Director Eli Craig (“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil”) explains that the movie can be, in some methods, a microcosm of what might be seen in in the present day’s charged socio-political local weather.
L-R: Verity Marks, Cassandra Potenza and Katie Douglas in Eli Craig’s “Clown in a Cornfield” (IFC Movies)
“[Cesare’s novel] holds a mirror up to the American dream — exposing the warped facade of capitalism gone wrong and the rage that comes from being on the losing end of it,” mentioned Craig, of his preliminary ideas on his movie’s supply materials. “Frendo the Clown, in happier times, was a beloved company mascot but now he has morphed into a symbol embodying all the embitterment, spite and aggrievement — emotions that conflate violence with justice — of those left behind.”
Craig and co-writer Carter Blanchard’s screenplay builds on the unrest specified by Cesare’s 2020 novel, whereas additionally imbuing the movie with a quippy “Scream”-like sensibility that helps lower a few of the movie’s and gory kills. Craig defined that slasher movies of the 70s and 80s have been main inspirations for the movie and the campy id of that period’s movies is throughout Craig’s.
It is a successful recipe that additionally helps make up for a few of “Clown”‘s much less profitable components.
Whereas its ambiance and teenage forged are nice, the movie itself has a meandering feeling up till its terrific (and intense) climax. The primary half of the movie feels uneven and considerably underdeveloped — each of which is likely to be accounted for by budgetary restraints, so we’re inclined to forgive it. However, it could have set the movie up for a extra highly effective climax if we would gotten to spend extra time in Kettle Springs earlier than issues go awry.
A pattern we have observed with new horror motion pictures these days is an unwillingness to permit pressure to sit down. A current instance is Leigh Whannell’s “Wolf Man,” which had a lot going for it however squanders any potential pressure by having all the pieces happen over a single day — the primary day the household enters a spooky forest. Like “Wolf Man,” “Clown” takes place over the primary few days of Quinn’s life in Kettle Springs and equally, the remainder of the movie suffers for skipping these early tension-building moments.
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However do not be confused, we truly actually favored “Clown in a Cornfield.” It isn’t an ideal film nevertheless it feels so lovingly made by individuals who perceive and love the horror style. It is troublesome to not respect it. The movie’s 90-minute runtime can be a plus and “Clown in a Cornfield” is aware of when to depart the celebration whereas it is nonetheless enjoyable.
All-in-all, do not come to this film for “elevated horror” or for any form of emotional catharsis. Watch this film if you happen to take pleasure in horror and wish to watch teenagers attempt to survive a killer clown. “Clown in a Cornfield” is enjoyable and that is all it actually must be.
If the film leaves you craving extra clown and extra cornfield, you are in luck. Cesare has already written two direct followups — and he not too long ago revealed he is bought plans for a fourth “Clown in a Cornfield” sequel.
“Clown in a Cornfield” is out in theaters nationwide Could 9.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
