Clown in a Cornfield (2025)

I have never been the kind of person to find clowns particularly scary, I understand why others might especially when they are dramatised and made scarier for films like this. But if I am to encounter a clown at a child's party it isn't going to freak me out. That being said I love the way the clowns in this film were portrayed. I thought they were made so interesting and the ways they killed people were so creative that I was loving it. I was also thankful that the dynamic between child and father in this is much more loving. In the last film I watched the teen was a fucking menace however here I thought they were much more likeable even if they were painted in a slightly rebellious light which made it overall a more enjoyable experience to watch.

The acting in this was also surprisingly good. The teens were clearly gen z and yet the way they acted wasn't over the top enough to make it seem like a joke. For that reason the characters also came across as much more interesting and slightly 3- dimensional. The only confusion I had came from the backstory surrounding the clown. Having the reveal be that there is not just one clown but multiple and it isn't just multiple clowns but a whole town of them I was loving it. I don't think you understand the love I held for a town that are all communally included in killing people for the greater good of the town. I do not condone murder but if murder is going to happen you might as well make it a town community building activity! And having every victim be given this jack in the box to symbolise they are next was so cool. The thing I didn't understand was why the clown? I understood the motive behind the people keeping to themselves and thinking new people coming in are ruining it but why use the town mascot to kill? There were also photos from what looked like years ago of people in the clown costumes in the news which made me feel like becoming the clown was more of a staple but from what I saw it was just the town corn syrup business mascot that became then critical to the making of the town. In a skip and a jump I can make the assumption that because the corn syrup business made the town money and become such a mark in the twin that the clown mascot then became the protector but part of me wanted to see that twisted assumption of protector be made in person.

The other thing I didn't really understand was the role that Cole played in terms of the town. He was the mayor's son so it can be assumed for a while he knew or at least picked up on hints of something going on. I did think at the start he seemed suspicious and for that reason deemed his the red herring but it turns out he was a triple red herring. Once he had given Quinn the jack in the box I was sure that meant he was in on all of the killings and then that idea was cemented further when he was the only one that the sheriff arrested. If that was me good luck to you I'm coming. Whatever I have to to get in that car, be that punching an officer or straight up jumping through the window I'm doing it and once I'm in good luck getting me out. But when he was the only one to go I was sure he was in on it and the chatter caught over the radio seemed to confirm it when Cole's voice mentioned catching the girl being harder than it looked to a voice that sounded like the Sheriff. So I assumed the story was he was in on the killings and completely at their will but then at the warehouse/ factory his father was planning on killing him. That in itself was confusing but if he believed he was cursed after his sister and then he wasn't able to do a simple job with killing the new girl I can understand why his twisted mind would want to kill him. What that doesn't excuse however was Coles entire involvement in the killing of his friends! This all showed to me that from the start he was in on it and even if he wasn't the second he saw everyone in clown masks he did so why at the end of the film was he treated as one of the best friend?! Was what happened to him fucked up? Yes. Can I agree that there is a possibility he never wanted to be part of the killing group and was glad when his dad died? Yes. What that doesn't excuse is his fucking knowledge! He still knew they were planning on killing everyone so fuck him for not saying anything and get immediately getting accepted afterwards. At least show me some arc or some hint at a conversation had where he is sorry and healing and everyone else still has a right to be mad at him. They just gloss over it.

However if we are to talk about Cole we must naturally talk about him and Rust. That reveal was so iconic. Rust from the start was a character that I thought would become a throw away that knows a little but not too much so warns to stay away from the popular kids before never seeing them again. But he does return more and it is in the most iconic way. He still warns Quinn she should have stayed away but it is framed much like the beginning as a shy kid versus the popular crowd. Then we factor in that they have history and we realise maybe the populars go too far with their pranks and something happened. Then we learn that Cole has this womaniser atmosphere around him where he leads in girls but never goes all the way or wants to commit. Then Cole and Rust get into an argument and the words they use aren't just about being ex friends, they're a little more specific, almost as if they were actually ex's. Then it all makes sense! They weren't fighting because of a friendship prank gone wrong, they were fighting because they used to be in love and Cole wasn't able to fully accept himself which also explains why he isn't able to commit to girls because he is gay and has a thing for Rust! And all of it happens so quick and so brief which I thought was perfect. We don't need some grand reveal but some off handed comments and allow us to connect the dots. I don't actually think they mention either of them being gay once which makes it so much more amazing. And then after that none of the characters change, neither of them suddenly become more yassified they just keep living like normal which is exactly what I want!

As a side note, Rust as a character was amazing. Considering I thought we would see him once at the start and then never again he became my favourite character. I love a badass with a weapon and he was just shooting bitches. Everyone say thank you Rust. I was gonna get so pissed had they killed him in that explosion but no of course he lived, that's a win for the gays. I also loved that he was this socially awkward but manly man who goes hunting and is gay. Break the stereotypes okay! And having Rust shoot off one of the clowns hands that Quinn's dad (the doctor) is then forced to help heal is incredible. I do wish we saw him do more to out smart the clowns or tricking them for information because I love the idea that he is forced to help the clowns or his daughter dies but by healing the clowns he is helping his daughter die. An endless circle I wish we saw more of because it seemed an interesting concept. But still the overall film was quite surprising, I thought this was going to be a very strict cornfield chase with loads of blood and gore but the narrative was so good that it held up those moments of horror so much better than it truly felt like a well rounded film. A great film might I say for the penultimate night of October.