Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) is the perfect movie for clowning around this Halloween
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The trope of the creepy or killer clown is well known in the horror genre—Who wouldn’t be scared of this chasing after you?
As Halloween rolls around, movies are in a boom. There are the classic horror movies like Friday the 13th (1980) and Halloween (1978), the modern thrillers like It (2017), or more family-friendly options like Tim Burton films. Though a nice scare can be good, within the plethora of options for a spooky showing also lies a good old-fashioned campy horror flick.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) is about as perfect an option for a B-grade horror movie as you could want. The movie follows a troupe of clown-like aliens that visit Earth to harvest humans for sustenance, causing chaos in the town of Crescent Cove, with humanity’s only hope of salvation lying in a rag-tag team of heroes.
Make no mistake, the movie is not “good”—at least, not in the way you might describe some more modern, complex thrillers. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) serves a specific purpose, and serves it well. The movie is self-aware, leaning into the bizarre nature of the premise. The plot does not have any crazy complex beats—there is a love triangle involved, but it is thrown in as a secondary focus for some extra drama.
The highlight of the movie lies in the visual effects, headed by producers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo. The spaceship circus tent feels like a fever dream to watch unfold, with no room following any logical design. Plus, the clowns’ methods of attack are outright weird. Pies and popcorn guns populate every scene, keeping you guessing on the next weird attack the villains might make.
Speaking of villains, you cannot talk about visual effects without talking about the clowns themselves. I would not be surprised if these creatures were a source of coulrophobia for any children who happened to stumble upon this movie. The costumes are ridiculous yet uncanny, offering a legitimately unsettling experience, given how goofy yet repulsive the clowns end up.
As much wackiness as there is, the movie contains a few genuinely well-done horror scenes. In one scene, the clowns reach the police station, intercepting any potential line of support or backup. Young officer Dave Hansen ,played by John Allen Nelson, discovers cynical officer Curtis Mooney ,played by John Vernon, waiting at his desk, only to reveal his body being controlled like a ventriloquist’s dummy by a clown behind him. The scene is surprisingly dark, providing a well-designed horror scene leveraging a silly clown-like tradition for actual discomfort.
On the other hand, the movie offers some solid comedy. There are plenty of risqué jokes, physical gags, and sigh-inducing one-liners to go around. Even the clowns themselves, while grotesque, have some moments that will make you chuckle. That is their job, after all.
The movie also boasts a great soundtrack. John Massari crafts a wonderful background with minimal involvement. Keeping in line with the ‘80s campiness, the music tends to be short and sweet synth-driven jingles emphasizing the tone of the scene. And, of course, there is also an associated punk rock theme song by The Dickies.
So, if you are looking for something a bit more lighthearted in line with some Halloween vibes, this film is worth checking out. Plus, the runtime is only 88 minutes, so if you really hate clowns, you will not have to stomach it for too long. Unless, that is, these freakishly festive fellows appear in your nightmares…