Clown in a Cornfield

Sometimes, you just want a good, straightforward slasher, and that's exactly what Clown in a Cornfield delivers. It's gory, tense, and doesn't mess around. The setup is classic: Quinn moves to a small town, only to discover that it's hiding a deadly secret. Enter the killer clown, and suddenly the cornfields aren't just a creepy backdrop-they're a trap.

The film knows what it is and doesn't pretend otherwise. It's violent, fun, and self-aware, with some creative kills and just enough backstory to make you care about who lives and who doesn't. Sure, it leans into some slasher clichés, and there were a few "Why would you do that?!" moments, but honestly, that's half the fun of watching a movie like this.

It's not breaking new ground, but it doesn't need to. It's the kind of movie you watch for the tension, the chase scenes, and the brutal confrontations. If you're a fan of classic slashers with a bit of modern flair, you'll have a blast.

I caught an advanced screening of Clown in a Cornfield (2025) in theaters this evening. The story centers on a father and daughter who relocate from the East Coast to a small Midwestern town still reeling from a recent tragedy. The daughter enrolls in a local high school where some of her classmates are rumored to have been involved in the incident, and she soon finds herself caught in a violent clash between those seeking revenge and her new group of friends.

The film is directed by Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) and stars Katie Douglas (Every Day), Aaron Abrams (Hannibal), Carson MacCormac (Shazam!), and Kevin Durand (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).

I really enjoyed this movie for what it was. It's a well-executed addition to the slasher genre with a unique premise and some truly creative kills. The unicycle scene kicks things off, followed by solid decapitations, standout chainsaw kills, and a slew of gory moments. I also appreciated the killer reveal sequence.

That said, the acting was inconsistent at times, the dialogue was cheesy, and Cole delivered some of the worst speeches I've ever heard in a movie. The killer's monologue was disappointing and the motive wasn't that compelling.

In conclusion, Clown in a Cornfield is a worthwhile entry in the slasher genre. It's far from perfect, but it delivers exactly what you'd expect and doesn't disappoint. I'd give it a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

Rating - 7.2: Overall, a pretty good slasher movie that infuses comedy to make the film genre-bending and unique; while there are many moments that are stereotypical of other low-budget slasher movies, "Clown in a Cornfield" does a pretty good job subverting expectations or calling out and making fun of its stereotypes in a meta way to make the experience entertaining and fun.

Direction - Pretty Good: The direction on a macroscale is pretty good as they do a good job blending slasher with comedy, making this an entertaining experience; the direction on a microscale feels very similar to other low-budget teenage horror to start with, but the movie really starts to get into its groove towards the 30-minute mark as it begins to subvert stereotypes and blend humor with horror; the storytelling is decent as it uses the stereotypical teenage slasher movie to lay the groundwork for the plot, then either subverts these expectations or calls out and makes fun of its stereotypes in a meta way; they build tension decently well, but it is a bit formulaic at times as it builds up to horror moments

Story - Decent to Pretty Good: The concept is your typical clown slasher movie, but mixed with comedic elements to make the movie bend what genre it is; the plot structure is pretty standard for a slasher movie; character writing is surprisingly pretty good, as while the movie does have its fair share of stereotypical tropes that it calls out, these characters grow in ways that surprise the audience

Screenplay - Pretty Good: The dialogue is filled with corny dialogue you would expect from low-budget, teen slasher movies; but the dialogue definitely gets better as the movie goes on; the humor is an integral part of this movie as it helps prevent the movie from being a straight slasher movie, being meta at times and making the movie feel pretty unique; the symbolism is present and somewhat profound; the foreshadowing is present and helps lay crumbs for how the story will transpire

Acting - Decent to Pretty Good: Katie Douglas - Pretty Good (Even though she starts the movie off with many stereotypical teen horror scream-queen mannerisms, she grows into her own and has good stage presence by the end of the movie; she has decent chemistry with the rest of the cast, especially Abrams), Aaron Abrams - Decent to Pretty Good (Plays the fatherly figure pretty well, despite his corny moments; he has pretty good chemistry with Douglas), Carson MacCormac - Decent (He plays his role decently well, especially as more weight is lifted off his shoulders as the movie goes on; he has decent chemistry with the rest of the cast), Kevin Durand - Decent to Pretty Good (Has a presence on screen that is felt; has decent chemistry with the rest of the cast), Will Sasso - Pretty Good (Uses his comedic presence to make his character both funny yet Machiavellian), Rest of the cast - Decent (While the movie is filled with stereotypical teenage slasher performances, they do a decent job with what they are given and definitely get better as the movie goes on; they help support building tension and the main cast decently well)

Score - Decent: Feels a little similar to other horror movies; very over-the-top in how it builds suspense for the horror moments

Cinematography - Decent: Typical of other low-budget slasher movies

Editing - Decent: Typical of other low-budget horror movies

Sound - Decent to Pretty Good: Helps build suspense and tension similar to other low-budget slasher movies

Visual Effects - Pretty Good: Good use of practical effects because this is what you want from a slasher movie

Production Design - Decent: Sets the cornfield for "Clown in a Cornfield"

Makeup - Decent to Pretty Good: It helps display the blood and gore for the kills; it helps paint the clowns

Costumes - Pretty Good: Helps dress the clown for "Clown in a Cornfield"

Pacing - Pacing is slow at the beginning and then very fast once the conflict is introduced, so basically, every slasher movie

Climax - The climax is pretty good and brings everything together but is somewhat predictable considering where the movie was heading

Tone - Tone is not your typical low-budget clown slasher movie; the movie sprinkles in comedy throughout to bend the genre and make the movie unique

Final Notes - Saw the world premiere at SXSW.

Clown in a Cornfield is about a girl named Quinn and her dad who move to a small town called Kettle Springs for a fresh start. They soon learn the fractured community has fallen on hard times after losing a treasured factory to a fire. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, a sinister, grinning clown emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time.

The first half of the movie feels like a serious slasher with some light humour sprinkled in. I'd say it was just okay in that section. It's mostly setting things up, and it takes a little time to get going.

But once it hits the halfway mark, the tone completely shifts and that's when the movie really shines. It suddenly gets hilarious and super slashery, and that mixes really well. The jokes land perfectly with the kills, which is such a fun combo. It's funny because the humour earlier on wasn't nearly as strong, but once the gore and chaos kick in, it all clicks. I was actually laughing with the kills, and some of them really surprised me. They're shocking and funny at the same time, and it doesn't ruin the moment. It actually makes it better. Plus, the gore is awesome. The practical effects are super bloody and look great.

It's a teen horror comedy, so you've got to expect that kind of humour. It's silly at times, but that's part of the charm. There are a few surprises in the story too. Even though I thought I had it figured out early on, there was a nice little twist that changed things up.

The movie ends in a way that feels like there's more to tell. Which I'm down for. I really hope they make a sequel.

If you love your slashers bloody, self-aware, and just a little bit unhinged, 'Clown in a Cornfield' is an absolute must-watch. It delivers that nostalgic, small-town horror vibe straight out of an '80s nightmare, but with a modern edge that keeps things fresh and fun. Frendo the clown is instantly iconic - equal parts terrifying and absurd - and the kills? Gory, creative, and satisfyingly brutal.

What really surprised me, though, was how funny this film is. It doesn't take itself too seriously, leaning into the ridiculousness of its premise in a way that totally works. The script is sharp, the characters are likable enough to root for (or scream at), and there's a surprising amount of heart buried beneath the bloodshed.

By the time the credits rolled, I was already googling the books. If they're anything like the movie, I'm in for a wild ride. Easily my favorite slasher of 2025 so far.