Clown in a Cornfield

At one point I thought I was watching the Geico "horror movie" commercial. The characters, the diologue, the setting, everything, seemed right out of that setting!

Seriously, "Clown in a Cornfield" is a movie, that, if it just stuck to a more basic, steamlined teen slasher outline, would have been fine. The clown theme is now over-played, so if you're gonna do this, there should be something unique, evil or mysterious.

Unfortunately, "Clown in a Cornfield" isn't that movie.

The plot started off ok, then the Director (literally) yelled, "Send in the clowns!" Plural. This takes the film in a completely different direction, and its not an improvement.

"Clown in a Cornfield" comes from a book (which was immediately optioned for a film), so the script feels overly-constructed. Everything------the father/daughter relationship, the tiny town (with a huge senior class), the racial and gay diversity representations, the bloated backstory of the town and clown, all seem inauthentic.

We're in the post-modern era of teen slashers and its getting harder to create quality stories and natural characters. But it can be done!

I think this would have been a much better film if the writers/producers had just used the basic concept of an evil, killer clown and made a slasher movie with more mystery and finesse, and less exposition. "Clown in a Cornfield" is overblown.

My idea of a good, retro, teen slasher film is 90-minutes in length, a clean, simple, yet creative story, and authentic, believable characters. We're coming up on 100 years of horror filmmaking. The best films have been the simple, eerie, and well-written ones.

I think we need to get back to simplicity, authenticity, and creativity in horror filmmaking. Everything new doesn't have to be supercharged. John Carpenter made "Halloween" in 1978 employing basic, believable young people, a trim, straightforward plot, and practical effects, all in 90 minutes.

I long for those types of films. Most of the time, less is more. Teen slashers can be great again!

I was in tears by the end of the movie i was laughing so hard. Immediately the credits begin with a score perfectly foreshadowing the theme of the movie (campy slasher). While i did at one point mentally compare it to Thanksgiving and wish for more to the movie in the beginning; i changed my tune by the end. I think once i switched my mindset from mainstream slasher to ~80s campy horror it really pulled my attention more. I think it does a great job of staying true to silly tropes but keeping gore up to par with current horror standards. As a horror fan i usually feel guilty not enjoying "cult classics" because i unfortunately grew up with further advanced special effects so it's harder for me to connect to "older" movies sometimes. I think this movie did a great job for those who may relate to how i feel and even for those who enjoy any campy slasher.

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.

What made Adam Ceasare's book so great was that we really got to know the characters, and had long enough in the terrifying situations to really soak them in. The movie, on the other hand, feels like it flies by. It's fun, quick paced, and Quinn Maybrook is still an undeniably fun character. I loved the humor injected throughout, and every kill is great. I just wish the movie was perhaps 20 minutes longer so that we could really feel the horror elements. Ultimately it feels like they rush by the scary parts and overemphasize the message of the movie.

There's also a huge change from the book in how and why the final attack occurs, and I am not a big fan of the change.

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.