Clown in a Cornfield is an adequate exercise in truthful movie titles

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Titled in a similar vein as “Snakes on a Plane” and “We Bought a Zoo,” we have “Clown in a Cornfield.” In this horror-comedy, written by Eli Craig (adapting Adam Cesare’s novel) along with Carter Blanchard, the story doesn’t initially revolve around a menacing clown haunting cornfields. Instead, it centers on teenager Quinn Maybrook (portrayed by Katie Douglas). Upon her father Dr. Maybrook’s (Aaron Abrams) insistence, she moves to the quaint rural town of Kettle Springs for her senior year of high school. From the get-go, Quinn encounters hostility from the local adults, such as Sheriff Dunne (played by Will Sasso), making an already challenging move even more difficult.

On the contrary, local teens such as Cole (Carson McCormac) and Rust (Vincent Muller) are remarkably friendly. Many of these youngsters have become famous for creating viral videos that re-envision their troubled town’s beloved icon, Frendo the Clown. This sweet corn symbol once brought immense wealth to the area. Now, Frendo serves as a platform for these kids to gain popularity. However, only a few days after Quinn moved into her new home, a real-life psychopath dressed as Frendo disrupted a grand gathering. It wasn’t a prank; people are getting hurt and blood is being shed. Now, it’s crucial to steer clear of the Clown in the Cornfield and make it through the night alive.

In a different phrasing, the title “Clown in a Cornfield” could remind you of “Sharknado,” but it also delves into themes that Craig previously addressed in his 2011 film “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.” This movie flipped the stereotype of the evil redneck character often seen in horror films, giving depth to these characters. It shows that people from a lower economic class and those who live in rural areas are not necessarily evil. Similarly, “Clown in a Cornfield” challenges traditional cinema’s perception of life in small-town America.

In the horror genre of Craig’s films, characters like Cole and Rust, particularly Rust who resembles Tucker and Dale, can break stereotypes by not fitting the typical villain mold usually seen in slasher movies. Heroes in these films can come in all forms, even those who appear as outdoor-loving outsiders. However, don’t expect Cornfield to present a sanitized portrayal of rural homes. Instead, the production takes issue with traditional authorities in these regions who harbor prejudice against younger generations, such as Gen Z and Alpha individuals. Even Quinn’s father, who is generally kind-hearted, often disregards his daughter’s perspective, which significantly impacts the Cornfield storyline.

Eli Craig’s “Clown in a Cornfield” stands apart from John Sayles’ works, which delve deeply into the heart and soul of rural America. Instead, “Clown in a Cornfield” combines gruesome, gory deaths with heavier social commentary, a blend that has proven more effective (and distinct) than many other 2025 horror films like “Wolf Man.” Regrettably, the scares in “Cornfield” could have been sharper. The character of Frendo, a new addition to the world of horror cinema clowns, may be part of the problem. After characters like Pennywise, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and Art the Clown, there’s not much left to scare us with twisted jesters.

Regrettably, Frendo seems to fall short in meeting the requirements for a menacing and distinctive masked killer. While his shoes always make a squeaky noise, which adds a darkly amusing touch, his appearance lacks originality with his perpetual wide grin, red nose, and signs of wear-and-tear on his face. The mask also shares a striking resemblance to Twisted Metal’s Sweet Tooth, making it hard to perceive Frendo as a unique terrifying figure. Moreover, shooting Frendo predominantly at night means his bright red stripes or blue handkerchief aren’t easily noticeable. In the competitive landscape of horror movie clowns, only the best will suffice. Unfortunately, Frendo does not reach those standards.

Giving proper recognition, Craig and Blanchard’s script indeed creates an intriguing and enjoyable detail related to Frendo in the movie Cornfield. Without giving away any secrets, you won’t have to wait much after the characters first encounter a modern-day Frendo for this moment. However, other aspects of the script fall short. For instance, the build-up surrounding Frendo’s identity lacks tension and is easily predictable compared to the shocking unmasking in the original Scream‘s Ghostface revelation. If you have seen a specific Edgar Wright film, you might quickly figure out what’s happening with Frendo.

The budgetary limitations of the film “Clown in a Cornfield” become quite noticeable during the final scenes. Similar to how B-movies like “Future War” and “Space Mutiny” use factory settings, the climax of “Cornfield” takes place in a drab, cheaply colored factory. The best low-budget horror movies spark creativity instead of constantly reminding viewers of their financial constraints. In the initial half, “Cornfield” usually succeeds at this. But unfortunately, the final stretch falls flat, particularly due to the overuse of generic sound effects such as a car backing up, which only highlights this issue further.

Despite finishing on a less-than-ideal note due to budget constraints, “Clown in a Cornfield” still makes for an enjoyable detour. The brevity of the film (credits roll before reaching 90 minutes) is commendable, and it’s boosted by solid performances from actors like Cassandra Potenza, Will Sasso, and Kevin Durand who relish their roles as horror stereotypes. Most significantly, “Clown in a Cornfield” delivers exactly what you expect – if you’re seeking a clown wielding a knife, you’ll find it here. However, by merely sticking to the familiar, the film unfortunately falls into a common issue that many contemporary horror/comedies like “Heart Eyes” face: repetition and frustration.

This issue centers around characters excessively explaining jokes that could have been amusing in themselves. For example, the joke in the cornfield scene where a character rings a doorbell while avoiding Frendo is already funny. The humor lessens when Quinn comments, “did you really just ring the doorbell?” A more unconventional version of Clown in a Cornfield exists that aligns with Craig’s deeper thoughts and avoids such conventional, cheesy elements. However, the movie version that hit theaters still provides its gruesome enjoyment. At least, it’s superior to both Snakes on a Plane and We Bought a Zoo.

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2025-05-07 15:14