The start of a brand new week brings a Wild Card pick, and 2014’s Clown is indeed a wild card. In 2010, director/writer Jon Watts and writer Christopher Ford uploaded a fake trailer to YouTube that boasted it was produced by Eli Roth. It wasn’t. But Roth admired their guts, and who doesn’t love a killer clown? The fake trailer became a self-fulfilling prophecy when Roth stepped up to produce after all.
Furthering that wild card theme is the sort of kitchen sink approach to Clown. There’s the creepy clown, some slasher-y gore, cheesy fun, and an interesting demonic twist to body horror. You’re not quite sure what you’re going to get the first time you sit down to watch this one. These days Watts has been busy directing the stand-alone MCU Spider-Man movies, and to think it was this little horror movie that started it all!
Synopsis: When a hired clown cancels his appearance at a birthday party, the birthday boy’s father attempts to save the day by running out to buy a clown suit. There’s something really bizarre about the one he finds, though; it’s cursed. The father is horrified to discover it won’t come off. Even worse, he develops a hunger for eating children.
Key Players: Andy Powers stars as Kent, the poor father who transforms into a monstrous clown thanks to the cursed suit. Laura Allen plays his wife, Meg. Best of all, look for character actor Peter Stormare to bring the exposition and entertainment as Herbert Karlsson, the suit’s previous owner.
Why It’s on the List: One of horror’s biggest taboos is the murder of children, and Clown boldly revolves around it. Even if most of the kills are off-screen, things get extremely bloody. The introduction of the body horror element is a superb touch, too. Nothing will make you cringe harder than poor Kent’s gruesome attempts at trying to take off the cursed suit. Also, have I mentioned Peter Stormare? He’s a perpetual scene-stealer, and that’s absolutely the case here. Above all, though, Clown presents really interesting demon mythology behind the cursed suit.
Ouch, That Has to Hurt: It’s cringe-worthy body horror moments like this one that makes Clown a fun time…
Where You Can Watch: Clown isn’t currently available to stream for free, but it is easy enough to find on digital.
Where does Clown rank on your favorite creepy clowns in horror?
