Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

Aliens who look like clowns come from outer space and terrorize a small town.

Director:

Stephen Chiodo

Writers:

Charles Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo

Stars:

Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Grant Cramer	...	Mike Tobacco
Suzanne Snyder	...	Debbie Stone
John Allen Nelson	...	Dave Hansen
John Vernon	...	Curtis Mooney
Michael S. Siegel	...	Rich Terenzi (as Michael Siegel)
Peter Licassi	...	Paul Terenzi
Royal Dano	...	Farmer Gene Green
Christopher Titus	...	Bob McReed (as Chris Titus)
Irene Michaels	...	Stacy
Karla Sue Krull	...	Tracy
Aeron Macintyre	...	Punk #1 (as Brian Degan Scott)
Danny Kovacs	...	Punk #2
Adele Proom	...	Mrs. Franco
Howard Malpas	...	Mr. Myers
Karen Raff	...	Mom #1

Storyline

When a small town is invaded by aliens from outer space who are capturing and killing the townspeople, no one takes them seriously. Why? The aliens all look like circus clowns, use weapons that look clown like, and all have painted on smiles. Only a few of the young people in the town realize the danger and of course no one believes them. Armed with an ice cream truck they try and rescue their friends.

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Plot Keywords:

extraterrestrial | killer clown | amusement park | puppet show | evil clown | 

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Taglines:

In Space No One Can Eat Ice Cream!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Killer Klowns

Filming Locations:

Santa Cruz County, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,657,329, 27 May 1988, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$15,625,095, 22 July 1988

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,625,095, 28 October 1988

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sarlui / Diamant, Chiodo Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The $2 million budget went primarily on production costs. The clowns and visual effects were created almost entirely by the filmmakers at very little cost.

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Goofs

In the bathroom scene when the Klown comes out of the toilet to attack Debbie, you can see the arm of a crew member operating the puppet.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Curtis Mooney: Look at this son of a bitch.

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Connections

Referenced in CarnEvil (1998)

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Soundtracks

Pop Goes the Weasel
Traditional

User Reviews

Thank you, MGM...

I just want to extend a BIG thank you to MGM! I haven't seen this movie in years, and have always wondered if it would ever make its way back to video.

If you can't tell what Killer Klowns From Outer Space is about by the title, then this movie isn't for you. The plot is so outrageous, that you need to be a serious Midnight Movie fanatic to enjoy it. It's only appropriate that MGM has issued the DVD under their Midnight Movie banner.

This is one fun movie. Not particularly scary, and not very gruesome, but hugely enjoyable. I've always been a little unsettled by clowns ("It" really did them in for me), and Killer Klowns should seal the deal. I've read a lot of reviews that compare Killer Klowns to the '50s "B" movies (especially the ones from American International Pictures), and I can say that I agree. Although, I can't even see AIP coming up with the concept of alien clowns overtaking a quiet town by sealing all it's residents up in cotton candy cocoons and shooting carnivorous popcorn from ray guns!

You'll be met with blank stares if you try and explain this film to anybody whose never seen it, so do yourself a favor. Pop a big bucket of popcorn, get yourself some cotton candy and sit your friends down in front of the TV and just let them take in Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Enjoy!

My grade: A+