‘Clown In A Cornfield’ (2025)

Having to move to a small Midwestern town following a family tragedy, young Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her father Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) hope to start anew as they settle in Kettle Springs. A once-successful town known for its production of corn syrup and its mascot Frendo, the hamlet is now slowly fading with Frendo rematerialising as a menacing presence.

Quickly identifying itself as a not-so-serious slasher, the film opens on a flashback to 1991. Teens drinking, smoking and getting high set the scene for one couple to wander into a nearby cornfield only to be brutally slaughtered by a man in a clown costume, effectively delivering on both the clown and the cornfield.

Jumping in time to ‘NOW,’ Quinn and her father find their way to Kettle Springs, a small and sorry-looking settlement in decline. Despite a few kinks here and there, Quinn quickly befriends her classmates Cole (Carson MacCormac), Rust (Vincent Muller), Janet (Cassandra Potenza), Ronnie (Verity Marks) and Tucker (Ayo Solanke).

Known for getting in trouble and for having created a ‘killer clown’ online persona, posting videos of fake ‘murders’ the clown is committing, the youths share that they had filmed a video after breaking into the town factory, which had then burned down. With the fire officially having been declared caused by faulty wiring, the group is nonetheless blamed for the incident, with them not believing the official final report either.

Spooking Quinn as they target her for one of their videos, the group soon learn there was another ‘clown’ present at the scene. The film quickly forwards to Tucker being stalked by an actual killer clown, the youths are soon picked off one by one, all culminating on the night of the town’s ‘Founders Day.’ Trying to escape the killer clown, Quinn and the remaining kids learn there are multiple ‘Frendos.’

A surprisingly successful marriage of horror and comedy, ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ delivers both gory murders and well-timed quips. Without coming off as schlocky or redundant, the practical effects go a long way as each victim is eliminated. Raising it above less potent teen slashers, the movie succeeds in sharp humour and excellent execution by the actors, earmarking this as a horror film with merit.

At the same time, even though the film has its triumphs, it also manages to rack up a few demerits. The big reveal may not come as a huge shock for anyone previously exposed to Edgar Wright’s buddy cop comedy ‘Hot Fuzz.’ Anchored on the same concept, Kettle Springs adults have conspired to cull the town of its ‘bad crop,’ namely the teens of the town.

With a number of high-ranking adults in cahoots to hack and slash their way through those they deem undesirable, the film proves to be surprisingly insightful, delivering cohesive and well-formed ideas on the generational divide between the teens and adults in the town.

Perceptive and discerning, the facetious film doles out commentary on the declining state of the town, alluding to the global situation at the same time, and maintains a serious tone for a moment, effectively delivering on current concerns without detracting by way of horror or comedy, rather allowing for the message to sink in.

On the whole, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. For viewers that are able to reciprocate the sentiment, ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ should be a fun and breezy caper. A few plot holes here and there and perhaps lacking in the most exciting twist, the film still manages to be fun and gross and does exactly what it says on the tin.

Score: 3/4