Spoilers want you to stop them if you’d heard this one.

Sometimes we just want movies to deliver what’s in the poster. Yes, new girl in town, hangs around with the local cool kids and gets in trouble. Throw in a scary town legend about a serial killer clown and you’re basically seen this all before. The thing is, while you’re watching you do get to have a little fun and of course, fun is not over until the clown appears with a chainsaw. Pretty solid for a genre film of this ilk with no surprises and you’ll see the tropes coming a mile away. Put on the red nose and let’s go.

(Credit: Shudder)

Clown in a Cornfield (2025) is directed by Eli Craig, who wrote the screenplay with Carter Blanchard. It’s all based in a novel by Adam Cesare. Quinn (Katie Douglas) has just moved into the quiet little town of Kettle Springs with her father, Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams). She’s already getting in trouble after befriending Cole (Carson McCormack) and his friends Janet (Cassandra Potenza), Ronnie (Verity Marks), Tucker (Ayo Solanye) and Matt (Alexandre Martin Deakin). They’re considered the local troublemakers by Sheriff Dunne (Will Sasso) and most of the adult population. A local town holiday known as Founder’s Day is coming, and the town celebrates with their local mascot clown, Frendo. But the kids just want to party and play pranks to post online, something that seems to bring to life Frendo with rather murderous intent.

It’s all straight to gore, but I have to commend the above average performances of the cast and the nods to the 80s slasher horror flicks. There’s also quite a darkly humorous vein running along. It’s not overtly funny but amusing enough to add to the campiness of it all. The story is pure small town horror fare, so don’t expect any major surprises. The plot has a few twists and reveals that you should spot from the moment Quinn and her father arrive in town. The performances are decent enough and this is one in which the cast is more likeable than annoying, so it won’t feel as long.

Recommended as a your typical small town slasher with some humour to spice it up. There’s better horror films out there but also much, much worse so keep this one bookmarked in your watchlist for Halloween if your choices are few. Although it doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, it’s decent enough to warrant a watch.

That will do for now.