John’s Horror Corner: Clown in a Cornfield (2025), the barely not regrettable “clown horror” you could probably skip.

MY CALL: I’m not even sure whether to call this more horror comedy, which it isn’t quite, or more satire, which it also isn’t quite. This also isn’t quite impressive, though actually quite competently made and juuuust entertaining enough for me not to fully regret it. MORE MOVIES LIKE Clown in a Cornfield: For more (and far better) evil clown movies, try Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), All Hallows’ Eve (2013), Terrifier (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022), Stephen King’s It (1990, 2017), and maaaybe even Clownhouse (1989), Stitches (2012), Scary or Die (2012) and Clown (2014).

Almost satirizing the trope, some kids at a 1991 rural keg party wander into a cornfield to make out and it most unshockingly ends in murder. And not just any murder. Murder by a squeaky-plus-size-shoed clown with a pitchfork. PS—my tone is not mocking. I did enjoy it. Even if nothing special, it’s well-executed.

Skip forward to present day and, just like Founder’s Day (2023), the town celebrates the Fall holiday of Founder’s Day. I’ll spare myself the online deep dive into 80s horror minutiae… but I’m assuming more movies are themed around the same day.

Quinn (Katie Douglas) is reluctantly moved by her doctor father to a small town to finish her senior year of high school. Through teacher-mocking solidarity, she ends up in detention and making friends with a bad crowd—Ronnie (Verity Marks; Elevator Game, Toys of Terror), Tucker (Ayo Solanke), Matt (Alexandre Martin Deakin), Cole (Carson MacCormac), and Janet (Cassandra Potenza). This crew makes joke videos depicting a local serial killer legend, a clown named Frendo. But Frendo doesn’t think they’re very funny… So, Frendo stalks them one by one.

The death scenes are nothing special—but not boring either. The weightlifting death definitely drew a grin, even if unsensational. Overall, attempts to make the death scenes more funny or feisty are considerably less effective than desired. This movie isn’t bad by any means. But I think it would land better on younger audiences more green to the genre.

Watch out for Kevin Durand (Abigail, Captive, Resident Evil: Retribution) as the town mayor and Will Sasso (Super Troopers, Mad TV) as the sheriff. Unfortunately, these minor roles may be the highlight of the movie for fans over 40.

Director Eli Craig has made a proficient slash-em up for teenagers—and maybe that was the goal. But I’d call this his distinctly inferior film. There is truly no comparison to the likes of Craig’s Tucker and Dale versus Evil (2010). Again, it’s not bad—pretty decent even. But it’s definitely weak when compared to the outstanding work for which he is known. So, temper your expectations accordingly.