Eli Craig, the director behind the cult classic Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, returns to the horror scene with Clown in a Cornfield, a film adaptation of Adam Cesare’s Bram Stoker Award-winning novel. Released in theaters today, May 9, 2025, the movie introduces audiences to Frendo, a sinister clown terrorizing the small town of Kettle Springs.
The story follows Quinn Maybrook (Katie Douglas), a teenager who moves with her father (Aaron Abrams) to Kettle Springs, Missouri, seeking a fresh start after personal tragedy. The town, once thriving due to the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory, is now divided and decaying after the factory's closure and subsequent fire. As tensions rise between the conservative adults and rebellious teens, the town's former mascot, Frendo the Clown, reemerges—not as a symbol of community pride, but as a harbinger of death.
Craig's direction brings a blend of genuine scares and dark comedy, reminiscent of his earlier work. The film opens with a stylized murder scene set in 1991, paying homage to classic slasher tropes, before shifting to the present-day horrors. Quinn quickly befriends a group of creative teens who enjoy making fake slasher videos, adding a meta-commentary on the genre. One standout moment involves a teen's futile attempt to use a rotary phone during a panic, highlighting the film's ability to find humor in terror.
Clown in a Cornfield premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival, garnering attention for its effective blend of horror and satire. Critics have noted the film's self-awareness and its nods to 1980s slasher films. While some reviews point out its reliance on genre clichés, others praise its pacing and the performance of Katie Douglas, who brings depth to the role of Quinn.
Frendo's portrayal has sparked discussions about the resurgence of killer clowns in horror cinema. With his menacing grin and brutal methods, Frendo stands out as a potential new icon in the genre, drawing comparisons to Pennywise and Art the Clown. The film's climax, involving a horde of identical killer clowns during the town's centennial celebration, amplifies the chaos and solidifies Frendo's place in the pantheon of horror villains.
While Clown in a Cornfield is currently exclusive to theaters, it's slated for a future release on Shudder, the horror-focused streaming platform. Given the film's reception and the popularity of Cesare's novel series, which includes two sequels, there's potential for Frendo's story to continue on screen.
Tags: Clown in a Cornfield, Eli Craig, Frendo the Clown, Katie Douglas, slasher film, horror movie 2025, Adam Cesare, Kettle Springs, killer clown, Shudder
