“Don’t fuck with Frendo.”
Clown in a Cornfield is an absolute blast—it’s been a while since a horror movie had me laughing this much.
Clown in a Cornfield, directed by Eli Craig and based on Adam Cesare’s novel, kicks off with a creepy prologue set in 1991 in the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri. A group of teens throws a late-night party near the abandoned Baypen corn syrup factory, but things take a deadly turn when two of them sneak into the cornfield and run into a killer dressed as Frendo, the town’s clown mascot. This bloody opening sets the tone for a modern slasher with a fun, nostalgic edge.
Fast forward to the present: seventeen-year-old Quinn Maybrook (Katie Douglas) moves to Kettle Springs with her dad, Glenn (Aaron Abrams), both still grieving the recent loss of her mom. The tension between them only deepens Quinn’s sense of disconnection (moving from Philly to a random small town for senior year? Yeah, I’d be pissed too).
Though she insists she’s not looking for friends, Quinn quickly gets pulled into a group of notorious pranksters. During detention, they introduce her to their YouTube channel, where they stage pranks featuring Frendo as a serial killer. That night, after stealing booze from a local store, they shoot another video—this time with Quinn in the spotlight. But when she re-watches the footage later, something feels off. That’s when the jokes stop, and the real bloodbath begins.
Clown in a Cornfield is an absolute blast—it’s been a while since a horror movie had me laughing this much. The comedic timing is spot on (the telephone scene killed me), and the line deliveries are just "bloody good", adding a playful edge to the chaos. It strikes a surprisingly effective balance between humor and horror, keeping things light enough to be fun but intense enough to keep you on edge (huge shoutout to the audience at my screening—your reactions made the whole experience even more fun). There’s a playful, self-aware energy running through the whole thing, and the performances totally match that vibe—the cast does a fantastic job, fully embracing the campy yet thrilling tone.
Sure, the plot is predictable (I called the twist and a few of the jokes before they landed), but that doesn't take away from the experience. The movie wears its slasher influences proudly—from the masked killer to the eerie small-town setting—but it never feels tired. It delivers exactly what you come to a slasher for: over-the-top kills, creepy vibes, high-stakes chases, and relentless momentum.
What really caught me off guard were the unexpected bursts of heart. Amid all the blood and chaos, the film carves out space for quiet, human moments—scenes that let the characters breathe and feel grounded. These emotional beats sneak up on you, adding a surprising layer of connection.
Clown in a Cornfield knows exactly what it’s doing. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. It delivers on its promise: a fun, bloody, crowd-pleasing slasher with just the right amount of blood. It’s the kind of film that reminds you how great it is to watch horror with a big, rowdy audience—where laughs and screams blur together in the best way. Grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the carnage. You won’t regret it!
Photo : Entract Films, Elevation Pictures
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