Clown in a Cornfield

If you love your slashers bloody, self-aware, and just a little bit unhinged, 'Clown in a Cornfield' is an absolute must-watch. It delivers that nostalgic, small-town horror vibe straight out of an '80s nightmare, but with a modern edge that keeps things fresh and fun. Frendo the clown is instantly iconic - equal parts terrifying and absurd - and the kills? Gory, creative, and satisfyingly brutal.

What really surprised me, though, was how funny this film is. It doesn't take itself too seriously, leaning into the ridiculousness of its premise in a way that totally works. The script is sharp, the characters are likable enough to root for (or scream at), and there's a surprising amount of heart buried beneath the bloodshed.

By the time the credits rolled, I was already googling the books. If they're anything like the movie, I'm in for a wild ride. Easily my favorite slasher of 2025 so far.

I'm a big fan of the book and was hoping that the movie would stick to it. It's a fun movie, I enjoyed the comedic elements but if you are a fan of the book and think it will represent the book 100% you might not like this. The movie felt rushed in some parts with not much character development. If they make a sequel please stick to the book more.

I just watched the movie today and honestly had a blast. It did keep me entertained I will tell you that, but it was sort of all very cliche so you knew what was coming. Some of the lines were just straight up cringey. There was a pretty funny plot twist for a character which I enjoyed a lot. The entire idea of it was great. It was more of a comedy than an actual horror. So I think it is basically good for the genres that it does generally fit which is dark comedy and a teen slasher. I would not add horror to it. Could have been way scarier honestly. The scariest part was the dad jumping out of nowhere into the frame lol.

Sometimes, you just want a good, straightforward slasher, and that's exactly what Clown in a Cornfield delivers. It's gory, tense, and doesn't mess around. The setup is classic: Quinn moves to a small town, only to discover that it's hiding a deadly secret. Enter the killer clown, and suddenly the cornfields aren't just a creepy backdrop-they're a trap.

The film knows what it is and doesn't pretend otherwise. It's violent, fun, and self-aware, with some creative kills and just enough backstory to make you care about who lives and who doesn't. Sure, it leans into some slasher clichés, and there were a few "Why would you do that?!" moments, but honestly, that's half the fun of watching a movie like this.

It's not breaking new ground, but it doesn't need to. It's the kind of movie you watch for the tension, the chase scenes, and the brutal confrontations. If you're a fan of classic slashers with a bit of modern flair, you'll have a blast.

While I enjoy a good slasher, I would not call myself a fiend for them. I don't subscribe to Shudder and I don't watch all the horror movies that come out. I'd even say that I tend to stay away from the schlocky and B/C grade ones, though there are those that I do enjoy. For me, this is one of those films. While I appreciate that this one tries to do a little more and have a little more to say, in the end, the slasher elements just felt okay. The kills lack creativity, the whodunit part is kind of predictable, and the film felt very much in line with your typical slasher in it's most visceral elements.

Quinn is a new kid in town and quickly finds herself among peers. They take to her, mostly, and she's soon hanging out, drinking beer, and getting cozy with one of the boys. Of course, this is a slasher and the good times don't last long before the clown starts messing things up. I will say that the film does do a good job with it's central theme, that being a divide between the generations. While the kids fit into the modern mold of being kids, getting into a bit of trouble while spending some time creating a bit of horror content for YouTube, the adults are much more morose and agitated. They don't take kindly to the kids and it's a central theme to the story throughout. The cast is also mostly good, though too many feel like throw away characters left to be fodder. Katie Douglas, Carson MacCormac and Aaron Abrams fare the best by being more than one dimensional and actually giving the movie some emotional weight. The film also contains the trappings of most slasher films, so those who love the genre staples will be right at home here. Initially, I expected the movie to be pretty cliche and similar to everything else. Then, halfway through, things take an intense turn and the movie shifts into overdrive.

Here is where most will find the film's strengths. Not content with just wallowing in the films cliches, it decides to kick things up. I won't spoil it here, but it was a pleasant surprise after thinking I'd be let down. All of that said, the movie never rose above average for me. Everything about it screams "watch at home on TV with some popcorn and friends and/or family". I can't quite put my finger on it, but the whole production feels very much run of the mill, 80's/90's slasher that you'd rent on a weekend. It does do a decent job with it's favored social commentary, even though I found that to be a little to on the nose, but it's not enough to elevate the production. On top of this, the kills lack any real creativity. We get a lot of the usual, from slashings to stabbings to severed parts. There's maybe one kill that stands out, but it's incredibly goofy and I actually laughed in the theater when it happened because it was so ridiculous. This, for me, may have been the biggest buzz kill. The lack of creativity.

Clown in a Cornfield is likely to make genre fans who eat this stuff up like corn syrup overloaded candy, but for anyone looking for something more than an average slasher, this will be a let down. It's not bad, just mostly average.