The Clown at Midnight (1998)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Director:

Jean Pellerin

Writer:

Kenneth J. Hall (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Seven opposites, one old opera house, and a secret to die for.

Plot:

Seven teenagers are stalked by a murderous clown while refurbishing an old opera house.

Plot Keywords:

Clown | Abandoned Theater | Theater | Woman Wearing Glasses | Female Nudity

Cast

Christopher Plummer	...	Mr. Caruthers
Margot Kidder	...	Ms. Ellen Gibby
Sarah Lassez	...	Kate Williams
James Duval	...	George Reese
Tatyana Ali	...	Monica
Melissa Galianos	...	Cheryl 'Walnut' Webber
J.P. Grimard	...	Marty Timmerman
Ryan Bittle	...	Taylor Marshall
Liz Crawford	...	Ashley
Vicki Marentette	...	Lorraine Sedgewick
Jonathan Barrett	...	Lorenzo Orsini
John Bluethner	...	Arnold Williams
Pauline Broderick	...	Julia Williams

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence, sexuality and some language.

Runtime:

USA:91 min | Argentina:91 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

The Walker Theatre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

GFT Paquin Entertainment

Quotes:

Kate: Break a leg!

Soundtrack:

Something's Happened Here

Cluttered-Creepy-Silly-Suspenseful

The opening to this film is exceptional...It delivers a very creepy atmosphere, that continues through the first death scene...The thought of a film set in an old theater, of course, gives this the Phantom of the Opera feel, but It really doesn't feel that way when watching it. The stalking scenes, are at times, silly and predictable...and should be able to be avoided by the character, but nonetheless, people got to die in horror movies.

Written by Kenneth J. Hall (Puppet Master, Blonde Heaven, Dr. Alien), it is not wonder there is some flaw to this. However, it really delivers more than one would expect from a DTV (direct to video) horror film.

My big Gripe! The use of the standard Horror movie characters: The Jock, The bitchy Princess, The black girl, The gay Guy, the creepy guy no one can figure out, the weird lesbo-type girl into the paranormal, and a dim-witted teacher....and of course the basket-case main character...They follow all the stereotypes for their characters, and it tends to sway from the story, and make utter nonesense.

Tatayan Ali, in my opinion is best performer in the film...Her death scene, however, leaves much to be desired (the girl just didn't Die well).

Corny, predicatable Dialouge, slow, but creepy paced...the film really isn't that bad...but I disagree with one review saying this is a HOrror film for true horror fans...It is a decent slasher, but nothing we haven't seen before....The end, was no big surprise...but I didn't quite figure out everything until almost the very end....

Enjoyable watch....I plan on watching it again...

7 out of 10