It’s only May, but Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s “Together,” which opens in July(!), is already being declared the year’s best horror movie. Don’t want to wait to see another excellent horror/slasher flick at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes? Eli Craig’s “Clown in a Cornfield” (RJLE/Shudder), with the most wonderful queer twists of its colorful sleeve, opens in theaters in May.
If you’re the kind of person who keeps a tropes' scorecard, then get your pencil ready because “Clown in a Cornfield” intentionally rolls them out like a parade in a small town. There’s a serial killer with a decades-long history on the loose. There are teenagers acting all teenagery (having sex and drinking!). There’s a new “city girl” in town who is warned by the unpopular loner kid about the weirdos at their high school. You get the point, right?
The aforementioned small town is the fictional Kettle Springs, where the Trumpy town folk speak with an accent that sounds equally southern and midwestern. Home to the Baypen Brand Corn Syrup factory, now abandoned following a fire that cost most of the denizens their livelihoods, Kettle Springs is prepping for the 100th Annual Founders Day Parade. One of the floats will feature Friendo, the (creepy) clown that was Baypen’s symbol.
Arriving from Philadelphia, just in time for the festivities, are recent widower Dr. Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) and his 17-year-old daughter Quinn (Katie Douglas). The doc, who took the job after losing his ER gig in Philly, and Quinn move into their new house, which he purchased sight unseen (don’t worry, the house is the least of their concerns).
Rust (Vincent Muller), a classmate, is the first neighbor Quinn meets, and the one who warns her about some other students. At school, where she’s immediately hassled by teacher Mr. Vern (Bradley Sawatzky), Quinn makes friends with fellow students (and popular kids) Janet (Cassandra Potenza), Ronnie (Verity Marks), Tucker (Ayo Solange), Matt (Alexandre Martin Deakin), and Cole (Carson MacCormac), who also happens to be a descendant of the man who invented Baypen Corn Syrup, and son of Arthur (Kevin Durand), identified as “the local oligarch.”
Naturally, Cole and Quinn are drawn to each other, and we expect them to become romantically involved. But other forces, including a serial killer in a Friendo costume, who begins slaughtering Quinn’s new social circle, has other plans. There’s also the fact that Quinn, who used to be besties with Rust, is hiding a very big personal secret.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to point out Quinn’s observation that Kettle Springs looks like it’s stuck in the ‘90s, a comment that is verified by her friends who tell her it’s true of everyone over 30. The town elders are big on “family values,” especially Arthur, whom we learn harbors disappointment and resentment toward his son, Cole.
“Clown in a Cornfield” contains more surprises than the one about Cole, including the fact that it was “hobos” and “hippies” were among the first of Friendo’s victims back in the day. Additionally, there are multiple Friendos doing the killing.
If you don’t mind watching a movie where you will likely figure out who’s doing the dirty deeds before the conclusion, you’re in for a treat. The kills themselves are varied and gruesome (for those who like that sort of thing), and there’s an unexpected element of humor woven throughout, as well as a happy queer ending. Ultimately, it’s not a bad way to kill time (so to speak) until “Together” opens.
Rating: B
