One of the most scary, edgy and terror filled movies I’ve seen this year Clown has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. Most everyone has at least had trepidation about clowns since the sicko thriller TV Mini Series Stephen King’s “It”. The production created many nightmares and probably got a lot of kids parties canceled when moms and dads were frightened by the ugliness of the central character Pennywise. But that wasn’t the most dreadful film involving clowns that hit the small screen. A few years ago “American Horror Story: Freak Show” featured a couple of violent and sadistic clowns that made me cringe to the bone.
Now comes one badass movie that should seal the deal in anyone who still hasn’t been frightened by a movie with a central character being a clown. It’s a very unique story that can only be described as a supernatural being in a morbid costume that kills for his own entertainment.
Prominent real estate broker Kent McCoy (Andy Powers) has several projects in the works. So many, he’s been hard pressed to get them fixed up to show clients. Because of this he’s neglected his family and especially on a very important day, his son Jack’s (Christian Distefano) birthday. Having ordered the entertainment and everything else rolling along fine, his pregnant wife Meg (Laura Allen) seems to have everything under control. Caught up at his last minute clean-up for an open house Kent gets a call from Meg that the clown has not shown. What follows begins a tale involving a found costume that’s so sick and incredible it boggles the mind.
Director and writer Jon Watts (co-written by Christopher D. Ford) does an excellent job of keeping the morbidity at a very high level. His clown certainly equals, if not betters those mentioned in the opening statement of this film review. The props and costume are very menacing, the pace very foreboding and the events following the initial party diabolical. Clown becomes hard to watch even for the most jaded horror fan.
Watt’s actors give top notch performances working his characters into a frenzy as the monster starts to invade Kent McCoy. Played by Andy Powers in this breakout role as an actor, he presses hard to elicit a creepy emotional state and wins big time. Using the ghastly make-up as his calling card to death, Powers changes from the likable father figure fighting to keep ahead of his Real Estate deadlines, to something from hell. I will remember his portrayal and wait for a long time to go by before accepting to review another clown movie.
Peter Stormare plays Herbert Karlsson a very morose man who has ties to the reason for the frightening changes happening to Kent McCoy. He’s a recluse that can possibly help Kent, but for reasons unknown at first, must only warn him of the misery that has been set upon him. Stormare bodes well as a scary character in many of his films and with Clown he’s exceedingly menacing. With over 160 credits to his name, Stormare will be easily recognized in Clown.
Clown has been rated R by the MPAA for horror violence and gore, and for language. This film is not for the faint of heart or novice horror fan. However, for the seasoned follower of terror, horror, dread and fear films, this is your cup of blood.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very morbid and grisly film that chills to the bone. (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Laura Allen, Andy Powers, Peter Stormare, Eli Roth, Elizabeth Whitmere, Christian Distefano
Directed and written by: Jon Watts (co-written by Christopher D. Ford)
MPAA Rating: R for horror violence and gore, and for language
Genre: Horror, Drama
Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: June 17, 2016
Video Release Date: August 23, 2016
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD (also available in Blu-ray)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
