Clown in a Cornfield (2025) - Film Review

      Clown in a Cornfield, 2025.

      Directed by Eli Craig.

      Featuring Aaron Abrams, Katie Douglas, Carson MacCormac, Cassandra Potenza, Verity Marks, Bradley Sawatzky, Vincent Muller, Ayo Solanke, Daina Leitold, Dylan McEwan, Kaitlyn Bacon, Alexandre Martin Deakin, Will Sasso, and Kevin Durand.

      SYNOPSIS:

      In a declining midwestern town, Frendo the clown, once a symbol of past prosperity, reemerges as a menacing threat. Co-writer/director Eli Craig’s horror/comedy Clown in a Cornfield (known for the beloved, hilariously entertaining Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) co-written with Carter Blanchard, adapts the first of a series of books by Adam Cesare. This film takes a gory jab at slasher genre conventions, yet it struggles to find a balance between satirical humor and emotional depth, with each aspect undermining the other.

      The film opens with a prologue from the 1990s that presents a well-known genre trope: two young adults sneaking away to indulge in drugs and intimacy, only to meet a grim fate. However, since contemporary mainstream cinema tends to be mostly devoid of sex, the murderous Frendo clown abruptly appears and violently dispatches them before any romance can unfold. If the trope is introduced, why not embrace it fully? This raises a separate discussion but also highlights the indecision pervading the entire project.

      Moreover, the clown (possibly more than one) serves as a metaphor for contemporary issues, which, while commendable, can feel overly simplistic. A subplot exploring sexual identity unfolds as well. By the film’s conclusion, the abrupt tonal changes are so disorienting that it feels akin to wandering in a cornfield. Nonetheless, it is commendable that a filmmaker would strive to combine these elements within a single narrative.

      To be clear, this film isn’t bad; it’s merely muddled. At times, it’s unclear whether we should cheer for the survival of these irritating teenagers or hope for their downfall. This confusion is heightened by the friend group that new student Quinn (Katie Douglas) joins in the small town of Kettle Springs, a troublesome crew that goes to great lengths to stage fake slasher killings for social media attention.

      With such an irresponsible group of teenagers, the severity of the more serious adult characters, such as a strict sheriff played by Will Sasso, feels irrelevant. I would be equally frustrated if these reckless youths pulled such stunts. They’re also allegedly responsible for accidentally burning down a local factory. This isn’t to suggest the adults are without their own issues. Yes, there is indeed a real killer clown on the loose, but the term could equally apply to both the teenagers and the adults.

      It also wouldn’t be a contemporary horror film if no one were processing trauma or grieving. Katie has relocated here with her father, Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams), following her mother’s death. Despite warnings from an outsider who has a knack for hunting (Vincent Muller), she is drawn to the rebellious Cole (Carson MacCormac), who has also been implicated in his sister's death and the factory fire.

      Coles’s father now runs the town’s famous syrup business, whose mascot is Frendo, the eerie clown he and his friends impersonate for their staged killings. Thus, we have the clichéd contrast between a helicopter parent and a more emotionally distant figure. Even more unusual, yet fitting for a horror narrative, is that the gun expert (who also carries trauma) becomes the ally you’d want during a looming disaster.

      Founder’s Day is nearing in Kettle Springs, setting the scene for chaotic bloodshed as the killer clown starts eliminating teenagers one by one. Some of the deaths are smartly brutal (like a weightlifting scene), with the filmmaker and cinematographer Brian Pearson effectively orchestrating them with a raw intensity. Pitchforks not only penetrate bodies but also hoist them as they smash through ceiling lights, resulting in abundant blood and gore that feels inventive rather than merely gratuitous.

      The film’s most unexpected element is that while Clown in a Cornfield initially gives the impression of being yet another clichéd Scream-style mystery, it deviates from that path. Instead, it is refreshingly direct, focusing on a single theme it strives to convey forcefully, complete with awkward speeches on the matter. This slasher film aims to be modern and significant while humorously referencing beloved conventions, often with inconsistent outcomes and lacking the sharp dark humor typically associated with Eli Craig.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.