IR Film Review: CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD [Shudder]

The mixtures of clowns and corn is an interesting play but also one for the concept that makes sense. "Clown In A Cornfield", premiering on Shudder, mixes some "Children Of The Corn" with a bit of "The Purge". Quinn (Katie Douglas) moves to Missouri with her dad (Aaron Abrams) to get away from a tragedy that happened. At school at detention (an ode to "The Breakfast Club", she integrates with a couple kids making viral videos including one whose family created the syrup empire in town which keeps everything running. A clown is on the label. The story shifts from a simple prank to full blown horror. The problem is when it all comes down to bear, the reasoning for the clowns is in the ether. No explanation really is made for why they have to (or need to) do it.

Taking that step to slasher usually takes just a tad bit more, especially if it is widespread. There is of course a certain misdirect in Cole (Carson MacCormac) which have made more narrative sense and given the proceedings a "Scream" capacity. There are some interesting scares and Douglas holds her own as a fish out of water. But even with Dr. Maybrook (Quinn's dad), his eventual perspective doesn't make logical sense. The visuals of course with clowns going nuts with a chainsaw in the fields is always a grisly and interesting image. However it is not enough to save the texture of the film. The performances aren't bad and the production value is good but the story connections really needed a little work. C-

By Tim Wassberg