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2d ago

'Clown in a Cornfield' Nears Release with Mixed Reviews and Killer Clown Ambitions

Eli Craig's adaptation of Adam Cesare’s novel aims to deliver a blend of slasher thrills and social commentary as Frendo seeks to join the ranks of horror's iconic villains.

© RLJE Films/Shudder
Katie Douglas stars in the horror film “Clown in a Cornfield.”
Frendo the Clown in “Clown in a Cornfield.”
Quinn (Katie Douglas, right) and her physician father (Aaron Abrams) have moved to a small Midwestern town, where he will be assuming duties as the town’s only doctor in “Clown in a Cornfield.”

Overview

  • The R-rated slasher, based on Adam Cesare's 2020 award-winning novel, is set to debut in theaters on May 9, 2025, following its SXSW premiere and drive-in previews.
  • Director Eli Craig balances dark humor and scares while critics remain divided, praising tonal control but criticizing the film's lack of originality.
  • Kevin Durand, who plays the town's mayor, claims Frendo the Clown surpasses Pennywise and Art the Clown as the scariest in the genre, further fueling pre-release buzz.
  • Filmed in Winnipeg, the movie retains the novel’s bloody violence and generational conflict in the fictional Midwestern town of Kettle Springs.
  • While some reviews highlight effective kills and humor, others label the film derivative, citing its reliance on familiar horror tropes and uneven execution.