When author Adam Cesare released his novel Clown in a Cornfield, the first in a trilogy, in 2020 it quickly became a favorite among horror fans. Now that story is being brought to the big screen with the help of director Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs Evil, Little Evil), who co-wrote the screenplay with Carter Blanchard (Good vs Evil). The film follows Quinn Maybrook as she moves from the big city to a small midwestern town with her dad. A rocky introduction to the town gets even worse when the local mascot, Frendo the Clown, begins brutally killing the local teens.

With how beloved Cesare’s book is, Craig and Blanchard had the difficult task of translating the story from the page to the screen. For the most part, they captured the nostalgic and fun essence of the book. Clown in a Cornfield is a slasher throwback pitting Gen Z against the older generations. When the audience meets Quinn Maybrook, she is just arriving in the small town of Kettle Springs with her father. Right away it’s apparent the town is stuck in the past with most of the adults supporting traditional family values. The teens in town don’t fit into that mold, constantly pulling pranks and posting them all over the internet. The film does a great job of highlighting the faults and widening divide between generations. This leads to some hilarious moments amidst the terror that really show just how much has changed between these age groups. It even gives that animosity and anger a face – Frendo. Once the carnage begins, there is a healthy balance of gory bloodshed and comedic timing to get horror fans cheering for more.

It’s almost impossible not to compare the book and the film when discussing adaptations like Clown in a Cornfield. This film certainly delivers the laughs, nostalgia, and thrills of the book, but it falls a bit short in other areas. The most apparent difference is the pacing. Watching the film, it feels like the audience isn’t given enough time to get to know the characters before the real bloodshed begins. It makes it more difficult to connect with these people or truly comprehend the extent of what’s happening in Kettle Springs. Everything is too surface level, almost as though the filmmakers were relying on audiences having read the book in order to have a better understanding of the characters. While I appreciate the desire for a slasher film to be close to that 1 hour and 30 minute timeframe, there was certainly room for more depth to be added for a more complete plot. Similarly, there is a moment at the end of the film that is fairly significant, especially if the filmmakers plan to adapt the next book in Cesare’s novel trilogy, yet it’s never directly addressed by the surviving characters. There’s no denying Clown in a Cornfield is an entertaining watch, but expanding on these elements could have taken it from good to great.

A highlight of Clown in a Cornfield is the performances. Katie Douglas (Level 16, Ginny & Georgia) stars as Quinn Maybrook. Douglas does a wonderful job of bringing this character to life, especially in how she creates a delicate balance between being an intelligent, capable, fiery young woman and a typical rebellious teenager. Quinn has the potential to be the next great slasher heroine, and Douglas proves she’s capable of carrying that mantle. A surprising scene-stealer was Aaron Abrams (Hannibal, Blindspot) as Quinn’s father, Dr. Maybrook. While Dr. Maybrook is more of a secondary character, Abrams delivers a great performance with some of the most memorable, laugh-out-loud one liners of the entire film. Other standout performances come from Carson MacCormac (Shazam!), Vincent Muller (Riverdale), and fan-favorite Kevin Durand (Abigail).

From the moment Clown in a Cornfield begins, audiences are transported to Kettle Springs. The production design perfectly creates that detached, small town feel. It’s as if the town hasn’t progressed past the 1950’s, for better or for worse. This is shown through the older, rundown homes and town center as well as the outdated technology like rotary phones. Another highlight is the design for Frendo, the mascot for Baypen Corn Syrup and the town as a whole. The mask for the clown is quite menacing, which might make it strange that he’s the town mascot, but the look and his signature outfit certainly fit the time period Baypen would have been founded. Frendo is sure to join the list of memorable slasher villains. Horror fans also won’t be disappointed when it comes to the kills. They are gory, involve all manner of weaponry, and the practical effects are fantastic.

Clown in a Cornfield captures the laughs and frights of a classic teen slasher, but it’s missing the depth of its source material. It’s difficult to live up to Cesare’s writing, but Craig and Blanchard certainly succeeded at creating a fun summer slasher that perfectly balances humor with kills. Much of what makes the film great is Douglas’s portrayal of Quinn, as well as the striking look created for Frendo the clown. Fans going to the theater hoping for an exact adaptation of Cesare’s book will likely be disappointed. Yet Clown in a Cornfield is still a wildly entertaining ride that will hopefully lead to a new horror franchise.

OVERALL RATING: 6/10