CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (4K): Not Quite Your Typical Slasher Film

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (4K UHD SteelBook)

2024 / 96 min

Shudder/RLJE Films

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

There are a few things that set Clown in a Cornfield apart from your typical slasher film… 

First, it’s based on a popular young adult novel of the same name. I haven’t read it, but unless standards for YA fiction have dramatically changed since I taught middle school, I suspect the book isn’t nearly as gory or expletive-ridden as the movie. That ain’t a criticism, either. Clown in a Cornfield boasts some gleefully bloody - and frequently funny - death scenes.

Second, it’s directed and co-written by Eli Craig, the guy responsible for Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, one of the best horror comedies of the past 20 years. In that one, he cleverly turned many genre clichés on their ear without ever descending into dumb parody. Craig returns to similar territory here, which somewhat elevated my expectations. Overall, the result isn’t quite as fresh or funny, but after a shaky, inauspicious first half, the film serves up a few big laughs, some narrative surprises and unexpected social commentary.

I won’t say what that commentary is because it’s directly related to a major plot twist and motive of the main antagonist. But I did appreciate the revelations and very thinly-disguised themes they serve. And as a card-carrying liberal, I’m giddy at the idea of far-right, mouth-breathing boomers taking a break from yelling at clouds and screaming “woke!” over a slasher movie that has the audacity to be perceptive.

"You never shut up, do you?"

But its roots are still firmly planted in the slasher genre, with an plot and aesthetic similar to those of the 80s. Katie Douglas plays Quinn, a semi-rebellious teenager who moves to the small town of Kettle Springs with her father and ends up falling in with the wrong crowd…according to all the adults anyway. One of her new friends, Cole (Carson MacCormac), is the mayor’s son and wrongly blamed for burning down the Baypen corn syrup factory, which was the town’s livelihood. Meanwhile, someone dressed as Frendo, the Baypen clown mascot, starts killing this group of kids one by one. 

For awhile, this is all standard slasher stuff…bloody kills, clueless parents, kids vilified by cops, teachers, parents, etc. And if that’s all you want from a horror movie, it more or less delivers. But it’s the unexpected narrative directions taken later that make the film stand out. Like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, these flourishes, bolstered by good overall performances, are what give viewers a bit more than just another body count.

Though Clown in a Cornfield is available in both Blu-ray and 4K, fans should definitely choose the latter. Not only are both formats included, it’s packaged in a great looking SteelBook. Other than a commentary track, there aren’t any bonus features. However, it includes a set of magnets featuring Frendo and the tools he uses as weapons. I’m thinking of sticking ‘em on the fridge, though the wife might have something to say about that.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K & BLU-RAY COPIES

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Eli Craig, author Adam Cesare, actors Carson MacCormac & Katie Douglas.

SET OF MAGNETS - Perfect for the fridge!