Clown in a Cornfield - 4K UHD SteelBook

We’ve seen the movies where the exhausted father and the world-weary teen move to a small town, and horror ensues. It’s a simple setup that’s been used for ages; it’s a formula that works. As we settle into Clown in a Cornfield, we’re reintroduced to this tried setup with Dr. Glenn Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) and his teen daughter Quinn (Katie Douglas). The pair moves to the rural farm country town of Kettle Springs in time for the annual Founder’s Day celebration. Just as Quinn starts making some new friends, the blood starts flowing when the rebellious kids start disappearing. During a big breakout party, the kids are terrorized by Frendo, the town’s mascot, who is intent on harvesting this year’s crop of bad teenagers. 

So the whole Clown in a Cornfield craze more or less passed me by. I was aware of the books; I knew Adam Cesare’s series was popular for the YA horror fans, but I never got the chance to plunk down and turn the pages. By the time the movie was announced, I figured I’d give the movie a spin and decide from there if I wanted to slide back into the novels. Considering I loved the hell out of Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, I figured I’d trust Eli Craig to deliver another funny, gory story. For the most part, it's a safe delivery. 

At a brisk 96 minutes, I enjoyed the film but felt like Clown in a Cornfield didn’t know how to manage its time very well. When the Clown carnage is on screen, the pacing for suspense, scares, gore, and laughs is pitch-perfect. There are some delightfully tense and suspenseful sequences that lead to some very entertaining horror/comedy payoffs. It’s the personal character-focused material in between the kills and gore that slipped past.

Again, I don’t know the books by wrote, so I can’t say if this is following things to the letter. However, in this film, the character beats, personal reveals, the stuff that’d make material relevant for likable characters, were just ill-timed. There are several character moments where I went, “They’re revealing this part of the character now?” Likewise, there’s a monsterously long-winded explanation for the whole "Clown Killing Teens" thing, and really, if you’re paying any attention at all, the identity of the killer isn’t a surprise, but the motive is certainly an odd one. Casting certain character actors also negates some of the surprises there.

But I can’t deny I had a fun time. Not the greatest time, mind you, this didn’t rise to the level of sustained entertainment as Tucker and Dale, but it was fun. I smashed down my popcorn in the theater and came out satisfied. Watching a second time through, it’s not any better, but it’s not any worse. Of a similar vibe and horror kinship, I’d stack this in league with other slasher/horror/humor efforts alongside material like Heart Eyes or Thanksgiving. Not quite as good as those two, but of the same blood-letting vein. As horror has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and profitability over the past couple of years, it’s great to have material for all fans of the genre. If you don’t mind a light plot and you enjoy your horror and gore with plenty of humor, you should nicely pass the time with Clown in a Cornfield. 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
Clown in a Cornfield stalks home video with a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray SteelBook set from RLJE. A BD66 disc secures the 4K version of the film, and a Region A BD25 takes care of the 1080p disc. The discs are held inside a slick embossed SteelBook, complete with magnetic paper dolls of Frendo and various implements of death and destruction you can display on your refrigerator.

Coming home to 4K with a 2160p 2.39:1 SDR transfer, Clown in a Cornfield earns some visual points. While I don’t quite understand why an HDR grade wasn’t done for this release, it’s still a strong visual presentation. Hand-to-hand, I felt it offered stronger, sharper details than the included 1080p disc. Facial features, costumes, set design, and gore effects all looked notably cleaner and clearer. Colors are strong, favoring the traditional autumnal fall-like hues of heavy browns and deep orange tones. Black levels, shadows, contrast, etc., are all strong and work well for this presentation. However, there are times when I felt the image looked a bit flat and non-dimensional. Returning to the Blu-ray, with the lack of HDR, there are several areas where the two discs appear identical. It’s not a bad presentation by any stretch, but given the dark, shadowy photography, this is a case where an HDR grade could have really helped the visuals pop more appealingly. As is, it’s pretty damn good.

On the audio side of this disc, we have a very effective DTS-HD MA 5.1 track to thrill us. Through the active soundscape, the channels delight with all of the screams of terror and bloody gurgling splatters of gore and viscera. Throughout, the dialogue is clean and clear without any issues, no trouble hearing anyone. Some stretches may feel a bit more front/center heavy than others, but when and where it counts most, the side/surround channels kick in nicely. Even for the quieter suspense sequences, there’s a nice subtle blending of audio elements into the various channels to keep you on edge, so when the big surprises hit, they really give you a nice sonic jump. 

While this set isn’t packed to the gills with extra features, there is a nice commentary track. With co-screenwriter/director Eli Craig, novelist Adam Cesare, and cast members Katie Douglas and Carson MacCormac, there’s a nice energy to the track as the foursome. Obvious bits of trivia and “remember on the day…” sort of material zips along, but it’s a breezy commentary and suitably informative while also being entertaining on its own.

• Audio Commentary featuring Eli Craig, author Adam Cesare, Carson MacCormac, and Katie Douglas

We’ve had a pretty good year or two now for entertaining horror films. We’re getting all sorts of entries of late within the genre. If you love depressing, harrowing, grief-stricken horror that’s out there. If you love possession flicks to grip your soul, that’s out there. If you love your horror with a sense of humor to all the blood splatter, you’re also taken care of. Catering to the latter camp, we have Eli Craig’s Clown in a Corfiend. While some of the plot/character machinations are a little clunky, the terror and suspense setups are creepy, and the gore-filled payoffs deliver. I don’t think this one will rank as an all-time favorite, but if we get a little recurring franchise of Frendo the Clown, I wouldn’t be disappointed.

On 4K UHD, the film comes to physical media from RLJE with a solid SDR transfer. It’s certainly stronger than the included 1080p disc, but I would have loved to see what an HDR grade could have done for the visuals. Audio is right on point, and the set is complete with a worthwhile commentary track and a magnetic paper doll set if you’re into fun swag items. If you’re in the mood for a creepy flick with a sense of humor, Clown in a Cornfield is Worth A Look