Clown in a Cornfield delivers a punchy, breakneck speed slasher that is at once predictable and refreshing. It is a film which knows exactly what its audience expects – a high body count, some snarky quips and a terrifying costumed killer – and delivers it with finesse.

From the outset the film moves at a rapid pace, jumping from exposition to kills at a startling rate. It is effective in the sense that there is never a dull moment, hurtling from one scene to the next there is never a sense of stagnation or lack of direction. However, this rush sometimes means that tension is lost. There is never enough build up for a scare to truly land and the camera quickly pans away from some of the gnarliest kills, diminishing any shock factor or emotional ties to the characters.

The tone is largely effective but feels slightly confused at times. The film is consistently funny, more in a sarcastic and quirky way than full-on black comedy, but it never rises to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. There are couple of big jokes but as with a lot of the action they feel rushed over and are not given the air to be truly effective.

Similarly, the violence onscreen is fun and brutal, providing gore and kills that are never gratuitous. Suitable for horror fans and the more squeamish it walks the line between providing unique death scenes but not seeming cruel or overly grotesque. It is this balance which ensures Clown in a Cornfield is downright good fun and a perfect summer horror film that is ideal for rewatching.

With a tiny budget of less than $1 million the film is incredibly well-made. The clown character Frendo’s costume manages to be unique against a backdrop of other horror clowns and the masks are genuinely eerie and creepy. The sets are also impressive, with the cornfields and town feeling immersive and realistic. The small budget can only be seen in moments such as the procession, where the small number of extras are shot carefully to appear larger, however this only adds a sense of charm to the film and highlights the ingenuity of director Eli Craig.

The characters and their relationships are fun with the only romance plot especially feeling fresh and sweet. The film is based on a book of the same name, written by Adam Cesare and it is difficult not to compare the on screen version to the written original. One of the main differences lies in the characters and the characterisation of the town, Kettle Springs. The book allows more time with the characters and creates a greater sense of the history and decline of the town which is integral to the plot.

However, despite lacking some of the depth and warmth of the novel’s characters, the film retains the core feel of the book and is an excellent adaptation. A slightly longer run time allowing for greater tension to be built and more time with the characters would’ve made it even stronger, but it is at its core a fun, tongue-in-cheek film.

Overall, Clown in a Cornfield is a fun and sometimes recklessly fast-paced romp of a slasher which despite struggling with tone and a lack of tension is a perfect frivolous Summer watch.

In cinemas nationwide now