The slasher genre can sometimes find itself in a long-running rut. After all, there are many ways to tell these stories, but few feel genuinely innovative. Clown in a Cornfield comes from director Eli Craig, the director of horror comedies Little Evil and Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. While other directors might try to push the story in other directions, Craig maximizes everything about the screenplay. The humor lands to perfection, the meta moments are brilliant sendups on the genre, and the kills are gnarly. As a perfect crowd pleaser, Clown in a Cornfield is a masterful showcase from one of horror’s most comedic figures.
Clown ina Cornfield — The Plot
Moving to the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, Quinn (Katie Douglas) already feels at odds. Her father (Aaron Abrams) took the job to escape the big city after the death of Quinn’s mother. However, even with time and a move, the father and daughter still face considerable strife. Quinn falls in with a group of teens (Carson MacCormac, Cassandra Potenza, Verity Marks, Vincent Muller, and Ayo Solanke) who make short viral horror movies about the town mascot Frendo the Clown. However, when the real Frendo starts hunting the teens, the peaceful town becomes a blood-soaked massacre.
Eli Craig ranks among the best horror comedy directors.
Craig immediately communicates the comedic nature of Clown in a Cornfield. It’s jam-packed with sequences explicitly referencing Jaws, Friday the 13th, and 1970s horror. In the process, Craig recalls the same feeling he was able to generate with Dale and Tucker vs. Evil, a nearly perfect horror-comedy that could scare the hell out of the audience while landing big laugh lines. Craig remains one of the very best horror directors to embrace the intertextual nature of horror as a genre, and the setup for Clown in a Cornfield proves that once again. Horror thrives on the threads and breadcrumbs of its influences, and Craig nails this aspect.
Craig also excels at setting up excellent kills. Horror fans will rejoice at the unexpected moments, which are both humorous and gnarly as hell. The body count is exceptionally high, and the variation in the deaths is surprising as well. The sudden and horrifying violence becomes a huge benefit to Clown in the Cornfield, with major characters finding themselves in harm’s way just as frequently as the red shirts scattered through town. The sudden and shocking finality of some of the kills will make you jump in your seat.
The design and execution of Frendo the Clown is perhaps Clown in a Cornfield‘s most important asset. Not only is he actually terrifying, but he’s funny enough to deliver an epic stardown. Additionally, clown costumes might be all the rage in horror today (see Art and Pennywise), but even then, Frendo stands out.
Frendo is a character that could make for an instant horror icon, and with his own personality in costume, he’s even got the ability to gloat in ways that few icons can. The number of unique kills is a testament to his talent and should help Clown in a Cornfield land with audiences. If nothing else, the “Don’t F**K with Frendo” one-liner is sure to become an instant classic.
Generations fight for their control over the future.
Small-town life allows clear lines of delineation and generational fights to shine through. The anger between the sheriff (Will Sasso), the Mayor (Kevin Durand), and a bevy of rowdy teens causes plenty of controversy. After all, the kids are blamed for some violent moments in the town, even as they preach their innocence. It opens the door for a murderous clown to take advantage of the inter-generational fighting, which slowly spreads its horrors over the town.
Additionally, it makes the central fight in the story between Quinn and her father even more relevant. Using generational divides as part of horror is far from new, but in this case, it adds a brilliant angle for recent times. Inherently, the fight between “the good old days” and the future is baked into American politics, art, and criticism. Playing into that divide is a powerful way to connect with fans while ensuring the premise feels fresh and unique.
Is Clown in a Cornfield worth watching?
Anyone who has a passing interest in either horror or comedy should rush out to the theater. Craig has crafted a great horror-comedy that actually delivers on both fronts. While aspects of the conclusion are weaker than the hour that proceeds it, Craig still crafts a brilliant referential feature. With excellent designs and a ton of fun, this is a crowd-pleaser that feels destined for instant classic status. It is already one of 2025’s best horror films.
Watch Clown in a Cornfield in theaters on May 9, 2025. IFC Films and Shudder distribute. Clown in a Cornfield will stream on Shudder after its theatrical run.
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