“Clown in a Cornfield” doesn’t do anything particularly new. And sometimes that’s a good thing.
We live in a world of major event movies, cinematic universes and sequels upon sequels. There’s a web of connected, mixed-media IP — if you haven’t seen the latest Disney+ television show, you might not totally understand the turn in the third act of the movie you’re watching . A post-credits stinger hints at the next show you’re going to have to watch to keep up with the next movie. It can feel like a cyclical purgatory.
Outside of the franchise films, you could see the latest arthouse release, but perhaps you’re not in the mood. Even a standalone film like “Sinners” — the best and most entertaining blockbuster of the year — includes sadness and a depth that you just might not want to grapple with that day.
Sometimes, you just want to grab a tub of popcorn and watch some creepy clowns chop up some feisty teens in and around a cornfield. On this and more, “Clown in a Cornfield” delivers.
While the film definitely has some themes to chew on, there’s no “this movie is actually about trauma” you must reckon with. Or grief, postpartum depression or economic disparity. Nope, mostly just a clown with a chainsaw inflicting serious carnage.
Set in the rural town of Kettle Springs, teenage Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her father (Aaron Abrams) have just moved from the city to start fresh. They find community has struggled to get its footing back since the burning down of the local corn syrup factory. Quinn meets Cole (Carson MacCormac) and his clique of filmmaking teens who produce a YouTube series about a killer clown. Soon after, the real thing turns up and sends the teens running, and the town reeling.
Based on a 2020 novel of the same name, the strongest asset of this tractor terror slasher is its humor. A talented young cast led by Douglas ride the confused emotional peaks and valleys of a teenage friend group. The red herrings around the mystery of the killer’s identity have some hilarious payoffs, and even the clown has some good bits. Everyone is on board for a good time.
Douglas is a standout in the lead role. She balances sass and wit with a sadness behind the eyes. While her relationship with her father is the emotional centerpiece, her bond with her newfound friends is the most compelling dynamic when the slashing starts. Their banter is funny throughout and really kicks up when the clown cuts loose. You really want good things for that bunch. Too bad you won’t get them.
Will Sasso (a face I am always delighted to see) plays the town’s sheriff, with Kevin Duran portraying the mayor and Cole’s father. Both men are good ol’ boys mortified by the prospects of change. The Trumpian America metaphor here is thinly veiled as elder members of the town battle the inevitability of generational change, and the teens that seem to be the culprits of it. The teens — while certainly held up as the heroes — aren’t particularly respectful of the past, as shown in a hilarious sequence where the inability to drive stick-shift prevents someone’s escape from the coming clown.
“Clown in a Cornfield” is one of those movies that doesn’t make you think. And we need those.
Watching the Credits 
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