Director: Patrick Rea
Year: 2026
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Clown
Plot:
Grown up from a tough childhood, a woman with an obsession for clowns and serial killers becomes disturbed by the broken promises of her failed life and turns her attention to striking out at those around her, triggering a massive killing spree that threatens to upend her hometown.
Review:
Overall, this was a fairly solid and fun genre effort. Among the better elements here is the fine build-up to allow her a chance to be sympathetic as she sets out on her well-earned rampage based on the events that set it in motion. Showing her early years, which include a desperate longing to be accepted for clowning, performing for children, and making them laugh, and the growing obsession with serial killers alongside a strong academic background and supportive parental unit, all come together to start her off on a strong note to be immensely likable. When she grows up to see the wasted potential in her life by having a deadbeat husband, a dead-end job, strained family relationships, and an unfulfilled social life, following this early build-up, where the contrast between everything adds up to make her seem justified in setting out on such a spree that she partakes in.
This is accomplished with a strong series of interactions that range from the campy to the serious. The actual snap where she takes out her husband and disapproving mother in separate ambush-style scenes serves to introduce more of a campy note, just based on the interactions that take place before or after the inciting incident for each one, giving this a somewhat lighthearted tone matched by the silly deaths that each one offers. Other encounters, including her coworker at a special Halloween party or the different scenes of her working through the staff at the haunted attraction, which is handled with more of a serious touch due to the nonchalant way everything is, with her rampage, as it offers a solid series of interactions, produce some inventive deaths in the well-designed settings. With this allowing for a fun, high-energy atmosphere that provides for an immersive approach, there’s a lot to like here.
There are a few drawbacks to be had here that hold it back. The biggest issue with this one is the somewhat sluggish and problematic interactions with the police officers, who are able to solve everything rapidly without really delivering on the investigative work to justify the rapid responses to everything. The whole thing is a complete coincidence, with the team taking the case only as a means of getting out of the office, and the high-speed deduction used to go from her being responsible as the de facto reason for the carnage makes for a somewhat rushed time going from point to point in the night. It comes together somewhat logically in the way it all gets together, involving this story to come together quite well, but it does become slightly rushed compared to the rest of the more measured and slow-burning build-up, and alongside the somewhat lacking gore here despite the high body count, these all manage to bring this down.
Overview: ****/5
An effective character study/slasher effort, this one comes off quite nicely for what it is, as one or a few small factors involved here that hold it down aren’t enough to hold off those positives. Those with an appreciation for this style, who are curious about it, or who are fans of the creative crew, will have a lot to like, while most others out there should heed caution.
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