Clown (2014)

Review by CJ

Director:
Jon Watts

Starring:
Andy Powers, Laura Allen, Peter Stormare, Christian Distefano

Running time:
100 minutes

Watch this if you like:
Demonic possession films with a coulrophobic twist

 

Kent (Powers) is a realtor whose son, Jack (Distefano), wants nothing more than to have a clown visit his birthday party. When the hired clown is double booked, Kent dons a clown suit that he finds in a house he’s selling. The suit has a dark history though and it’s making Kent very hungry.

Why did I watch Clown? Because it’s a horror movie about a demonic clown and have you seen that cover?! How could I not?

In saying that, I didn’t have overly high hopes for Clown because the concept seemed a little bit silly but the cover indicated that it was taking itself very seriously. How wrong I was to doubt it.

While the concept may sound a bit flimsy, Clown is a well developed horror film. It does have an indie vibe but that gives it a gritty atmosphere and enhances the events taking place on screen.

I really liked Meg, Kent’s wife, and Jack as characters. Even Meg’s father was likeable in how protective he is of his daughter and grandchild. The only issue I had with the characters was that Kent really isn’t particularly likeable, even before he is possessed by a demonic clown. It was a lot like the Stanley Kubrick version of The Shining, in that we aren’t given much reason to like the father figure before their descent, so their corruption is far less tragic.

The story requires a fair bit of disbelief suspension, but if you’re watching horror movies for the realism, you’ve drastically slashed the number of films there are in the genre that you can enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Clown. It’s dark, gritty and has a low budget vibe without losing its visual effectiveness. While ridiculous, it is no less scary and has good characters with decent development. If you’re a horror fan, it’s worth checking out. If you’re a serious coulrophobe though, it’s probably better if you just check out.

Rating:

“It’s not a costume. It’s skin and hair … of a demon.”