SXSW is in full swing in Austin, Texas and so far their horror movie line-up has fared well with critics. First, they liked the dog POV paranormal movie Good Boy, and now they have put their stamp of approval on Clown in a Cornfield. At least, according to their criticisms shared on Rotten Tomatoes.
The move is adapted from a book of the same name written by by Adam Cesare. It was one of the favorite horror reads of 2020. The movie takes place in, “A fading midwestern town in which Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge.”
The film is directed by Eli Craig whose Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) and Zombieland (2013) have become cult classics. If Craig’s past success foretells his future then he has another hit on his hands.
Here are what critics at SXSW are saying about Clown in a Cornfield:
“A counterintuitive treat where the familiar is mainly around as a place of no return and the fun is finding out where to go next,” Stephen Saito, Moveable Feast
Nathaniel Muir, of AIPT writes, “Killer clowns and teen slashers are two popular stories that have been around for a long time. Clown in a Cornfield manages to combine the two in an exciting and humorous watch that genre fans will enjoy.”
“… exactly what you expect from Craig, dark comedy and plenty of flowing blood, but with a bite whose clasp lingers in the afterglow of the watch,” — Douglas Davidson, Elements of Madness
“Simply stated Clown in Cornfield is a blood soaked blast! The film thankfully leaves behind the nihilism of the other clown franchise to use its runtime to explore generational trauma and the hopelessness of small town life through the slasher lens,” Dan Tabor, Cineaps
Clown in a Cornfield stars, Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Will Sasso, and Carson MacCormac. The film will be released theatrically on May 9.
