Spoilers were already scared when they heard clowns were in this one.

Using the dystopian world left after a civilization-ending event as a backdrop has become a familiar scenario. Rather than to go for the global spectacle, a common technique is to focus on a smaller, localized group of survivors. I must say, it might be the first film that I watch that chose clowns. Ok, at least the first Irish film that does that. It could go sad, scary, funny or – as we’re about to see – all of the above. As existential crises go, I don’t recall a funnier one.

Apocalypse Clown (2023) is directed by George Kane. The great master clown Jean Ducoque has met his end, and the Irish clown community is in shambles. Depressed hospital clown Bobo (David Earl) joins meme Pepe (Fionn Foley) and scary street clown Funzo (Natalie Palamides) to pay their respects. Bobo has an ulterior motive. He had a drunken one night stand with journalist Jenny Malone (Amy De Bhrún) and remains obsessed with her. At least he’s not as bad as the Great Alphonso (Ivan Kaye), a former TV clown who is only concerned with his great comeback.

The funeral ends in a brawl as Funzo is tracked down by live statue street performers she has pissed off. The end result is all clowns and Jenny end up locked down for the night. When they wake up, the major event (a solar flare storm) has brought down all networks and disable anything electronic. The unlikely troupe will have to band together while they figure what to do and where to go. Unfortunately for Jenny, none of these clowns have lost sight of their own personal agendas, least of all Bobo who still pursues her desperately and pathetically.

Yes, it’s hilarious. You have one lovesick clown in Bobo, pathetic and sad. Pepe is seeking to validate himself as a clown in the eyes of a dead one. It makes sense (ok, it makes no sense until you see it) that the deranged, sociopathic and possibly murderous clown Fonzo is actually the one with the funniest lines. On the other hand, Alphonso is only interested in his great TV comeback which is going to be a challenge without TV.

Highly recommended for comedic purposes only. Armchair survivalists need not engage here. There is nothing serious about this apocalypse and it’s all for a laugh. Dark humour is in large supply, so this one’s for grownup audiences only. Garth Brook fans might want to skip this one. Very much worth a watch.

That will do for now.