Clown in a Cornfield – Review | Shudder (3/5)

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD on Shudder is a new horror movie where the core plot is in the title. It’s as fun and wild as you’d expect. I had a blast watching this and enjoying it for exactly what it offers. Read our full Clown in a Cornfield movie review here!

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD is coming to Shudder, and if you didn’t catch the horror slasher in movie theaters, then now’s your chance. And if you’ve already watched it, you can have fun with a rewatch. While I don’t expect to watch this on a yearly basis, I could certainly watch it again.

The plot is as simple as the title, and I, for one, enjoyed that this isn’t a supernatural story, but rather a very simple, straightforward horror slasher. This kind of movie, where characters act like you’d expect, is just the kind of entertainment I want for a fun night.

Continue reading our Clown in a Cornfield movie review below. Find it on Shudder from August 8, 2025.

Welcome to Kettle Springs 1990-ish

Kettle Springs is a small and quiet town that seems to be stuck in the 1990s. Clown in a Cornfield also begins in 1991, where we see a murderous clown killing teens in a cornfield. Yeah, the title really does describe the plot very well if you add the word “kills”.

We follow Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her dad (Aaron Abrams) as they arrive in Kettle Springs, where he has taken a job as the doctor of the small town. Both are hoping for a fresh start, but this community clearly has a lot of issues.

Mostly, the adults aren’t too fond of the teenagers. I’m generalising, of course, but for many of the adults, it really is that simple. They don’t “get” the kids today (just like it’s been the case for generations), and tensions reach a boiling point on the traditional Founder’s Day of the town.

Meet Frendo the Clown

The town of Kettle Springs has exactly one claim to fame: Baypen Corn Syrup. The factory producing their main export of corn syrup burned down fairly recently, and the adults blame kids partying and making videos in the factory.

However, there have been stories of the Baypen Corn Syrup mascot, “Frendo the Clown”, for decades. When Frendo the clown comes out to play, it usually ends in murder. The kind of violent and bloody deaths that are perfect for a horror slasher.

Also, before we get that far, we get to know the characters, which means that, for once, we do care just a little bit about these “kids” before many of them will meet Frendo.

Katie Douglas (Lazareth, Level 16) has exactly the right kind of attitude for the character of Quinn. She’s a loving daughter (and Aaron Abrams plays a wonderful father), but also seeks independence, and those two elements can co-exist.

In other key roles, we see Carson MacCormac (Locke & Key), Vincent Muller (Smoke), and Verity Marks (Elevator Game) as some of the teens. Also, you’ll see Will Sasso (Boss Level) and Kevin Durand (Abigail) among the adults.

Watch Clown in a Cornfield on Shudder

Clown in a Cornfield comes from director Eli Craig, who also made one of my favorite horror-comedies: the 2010 movie Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. If you haven’t watched that one, I highly recommend it. In fact, I think it’s high time I give it another rewatch myself.

Also, Eli Craig wrote and directed the 2017 horror-comedy Little Evil, starring Adam Scott and Evangeline Lilly. With Clown in a Cornfield, the script comes from Eli Craig and Carter Blanchard. However, it’s based on the Bram Stoker award-winning novel by Adam Cesare.

I didn’t expect much from Clown in a Cornfield, but knowing that it came from the director of Tucker & Dale vs. Evil did come with an expectation for solid entertainment. And this horror slasher dark comedy definitely delivered on that.

Also, the 96-minute runtime is perfect. The only question that remains is this: When can we expect the sequel? Surely, Eli Craig has an idea for a Clown in a Cornfield 2, so we can keep the fun going.

Clown in a Cornfield begins streaming on Shudder on August 8, 2025.

Details

Director: Eli Craig
Script: Carter Blanchard, Eli Craig 
Cast: Katie Douglas, Carson MacCormac, Aaron Abrams, Will Sasso, Kevin Durand