Clown in a Cornfield is a horror film that blends the classic slasher genre with a modern, satirical edge, based on the popular young adult novel by Adam Cesare. Directed by Eli Craig, the movie takes place in the seemingly idyllic, but financially struggling, town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, where a deep-seated generational conflict bubbles beneath the surface.
The story centers on Quinn Maybrook (Katie Douglas), a teenager from Philadelphia who, after the tragic death of her mother, moves to Kettle Springs with her father, Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams), for a fresh start. Quinn is a reluctant newcomer, a city girl trying to navigate the cliquey social dynamics of a small, rural town. She soon finds herself embroiled in a growing feud between the town's conservative, older generation and the rebellious, tech-savvy youth. The town's economy, which once thrived on the local corn syrup factory, has been in decline, and the older residents blame the youth for its fall.
Quinn quickly befriends a group of local teens, led by the charming and charismatic Cole Hill (Carson MacCormac), the son of the town's powerful mayor. The group’s fun, however, is often at the expense of the older generation, leading to an increasing sense of resentment from the adults. This tension culminates on the night of the Founders’ Day celebration, when a series of escalating pranks turns deadly.
A sinister figure, dressed as Frendo, the clown mascot of the long-defunct corn syrup factory, emerges from the cornfields. What begins as a series of disturbing pranks soon escalates into a brutal and bloody rampage. The clown, a terrifying and relentless killer, begins to hunt down the town’s teenagers, picking them off one by one in a series of gruesome and creative kills. Quinn, Cole, and their friends must fight for their lives, trying to escape the clutches of a seemingly unstoppable killer.
The film's strength lies in its ability to both pay homage to and subvert the classic slasher film tropes. It is filled with self-aware humor, clever nods to the horror films of the 80s and 90s, and a brisk pace that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. The central mystery of the film is not just the identity of the clown, but the deeper motivations behind the massacre. Is it a supernatural force, a single deranged killer, or something far more terrifying and systemic?
Clown in a Cornfield is a fun and entertaining ride that delivers on its premise, offering a mix of comedy, suspense, and brutal horror. It’s a movie about the sins of the past coming back to haunt the present, and the dangerous consequences of a town that refuses to change.
Clown in a Cornfield is a 2025 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 55.
