Clown in a Cornfield Review: Classic Slasher With Modern Twists
Theatrical Movie Review - Horror/Slasher
Making a film feel fresh and unique in a genre that has very specific expectations can be incredibly difficult. This seems especially true for slashers, as there is little wiggle room on how these stories play out, and the formula is where the appeal lies. Director Eli Craig took on this challenge in his new film Clown in a Cornfield, a modern take on the classic slasher horror story.
Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) and his daughter, Quinn (Katie Douglas), move to the small town of Kettle Springs. Quinn quickly discovers that the adults in the city seem to have an axe to grind with the young people. It is most notable with Mr. Vern (Bradley Sawatzky) when he sends Quinn to detention with Cole Hill (Carson MacCormac) for no apparent reason, but when she meets Sheriff Dunne (Will Sasso), she sees that it is more widespread.
Quinn does form a bond with a group of teens who run a YouTube channel that has turned the town mascot, a clown named Frendo, into a serial killer. It all seems like fun and games until the kids in town go to a big party, and suddenly the nearby cornfield is swarming with murderous clowns. When the teens are unable to find any help from the adults, they take matters into their own hands.
The whole “kids these days” story feels like it has been done before, but somehow, Clown in a Cornfield manages to take that idea and spin it into something so absurd that it becomes unique and fun. Craig, who previously directed the hilarious classic Tucker and Dale vs Evil, seems to have an understanding of what it’s like to have people approach you with certain expectations only to have those turned on their head, and this film echoes that kind of storytelling.
The performances are fun, if a bit generic in this. Katie Douglas is a great final girl (though there is a bit of a twist to that), and all of the clowns do a great job of lumbering around with scary weapons. It’s obvious that everyone was having a good time working on this film.
The kills in Clown in a Cornfield are also gnarly in good ways. There isn’t a ton of tension in the film, but there is just enough to make the violence pop. And it does pop. There are some interesting twists on classic tropes that work well. Folks who like this kind of thing will be bouncing in their seats and those who are more squeamish will be peeking through their fingers.
Slashers have been a popular horror genre because they act as morality tales. When you exhibit particular negative behavior, the monster will get you. Clown in a Cornfield still functions in this way to some degree, but there is enough present in the script to make it something just a bit more thought-provoking. But even if you just go for the gore, you’re still going to have a good time.
Rating: 3.5/5
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on May 18, 2025.