I was able to check out Clown in a Cornfield, which was highly anticipated for me due to the fact that I was a big fan of the novel on which it is based. The novel and its sequel, written by Adam Cesare, were two of my favorite books that I read last year. The book felt campy and fresh, and I just love the slasher genre. How does the movie adaptation hold up?
Plot
Looking for a fresh start, Quinn and her father move to the quiet town of Kettle Springs. They soon learn the fractured community has fallen on hard times after losing a treasured factory to a fire. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, a sinister, grinning clown emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time.
Book-to-movie adaptations can be so damn hard. The reason is that you are never going to be able to please everyone. The main thing to remember is that books and films are completely different mediums. With books, you can get so many details. When it comes to movies, things are going to be cut or changed because a 10-hour movie is not profitable.
That said, Clown in a Cornfield is a good adaptation. It definitely has some changes, but it hits all of the important points that it needs to. The movie is directed by Eli Craig, who directed the massively underrated Tucker and Dale Vs Evil. He knows exactly how to handle this type of material: campy, while not feeling like a parody.
Performances and Kills
The most impressive thing about this movie is that it cost under a million dollars to make. The kills, while quickly shown, are inventive enough while still feeling campy and fun.
Our leads are likeable enough. They capture their characters from the book, and overall, are believable as bored teens who are stuck in this quiet town. Not everyone is developed super well, but this isn’t the type of horror film where we are supposed to worry about the characters. We are supposed to clap with glee when they get killed.
Overall
Clown in a Cornfield is a fun throwback to ’80s slasher films. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it has enough clever moments and surprises to make it fun from beginning to end. The movie has many tropes, which is to be expected, but there are plenty of new things as well. We are in a time where it seems that a lot of horror needs a message or to be elevated. These movies are fine, but we also have room for ones that are just fun, campy, and not afraid to clown around.
