My Take on the Clown in a Cornfield Movie Trailer!
Shudder has released the first trailer for the upcoming Clown in a Cornfield movie! Based on the hit novel of the same name, which I’m planning to read soon, Clown in a Cornfield is a slasher set in a rural Missouri town. A group of rebellious local teens are terrorized by Frendo the Clown, the town’s mascot. He is determined to punish the local teens for defying the area’s conservative norms.
The protagonist is Quinn, played by Katie Douglas (Ginny & Georgia). She’s a teenage newcomer to town who is grieving the death of her mother. The film is directed by Eli Craig, who made the horror comedy cult hit, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.
Obviously, there have been a ton of horror movies about evil clowns. I recently wrote about some of the more obscure ones. Is there room for Frendo to be a major icon, like Pennywise and Art? Or are people getting burned out on the killer clown trope?
If this movie is a hit, it’s easy to see it turning into a franchise. The book has already spawned two sequels. Personally, I am not sick at all of killer clowns. I love ’em! I hope this movie is another solid entry into this crowded subgenre.
My quick takes on the trailer:
0:00 – 0:05 – It opens, fittingly, with an eerie image of a cornfield at dusk.
0:07 – 0:12 – Residents cheer at a local parade, which features a giant clown statue. Frendo sure is a popular guy!
0:23 – 0:24 – First kill. Frendo is clearly a skilled marksman with a bow and arrow. The titular clown appears up close for the first time, creepily tilting his head and staring at a group of teen girls.
0:37 – Frendo has ditched his bow for a chainsaw. What is it with evil clowns and their love of chainsaws?
0:45 – Second kill, this time with a spear.
0:49 – 1:02 – A trio of terrified teen girls cover each other’s mouths to keep each other from screaming, only for Frendo to appear and join in. This is my favorite part of the trailer. Nice mix of creepiness and dark humor.
1:07 – “Never f**k with Frendo!”
Overall, the trailer does a nice job establishing the mood of the film. It definitely leans more into the comedy side, but it’s certainly not a full-fledged spoof. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares to the book.
This movie will hit theaters on May 9th, followed eventually by a release on Shudder. Here’s the Clown in a Cornfield movie trailer:
