Overview

• The film, directed by Eli Craig, premiered at SXSW 2025 and is based on Adam Cesare's 2020 young adult horror novel of the same name.
• Set in the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, the story follows teenager Quinn Maybrook, played by Katie Douglas, as she navigates a fractured community haunted by its mascot-turned-killer, Frendo the Clown.
• Critics and audiences have praised the movie's combination of gruesome kills, self-aware humor, and unexpected twists, which honor slasher traditions while subverting genre tropes.
• The film incorporates themes of generational divides, economic hardship, and societal tensions, offering commentary on contemporary issues within its satirical framework.
• Clown in a Cornfield is set for wide release on May 9, distributed by RLJE Films and Shudder, with many seeing it as a potential new favorite for horror fans and young adult audiences alike.