... features an intriguing premise and some unsettling weirdness, yet many of the plot twists feel arbitrary and the suspense seems dialed back in favor of obligatory gore.
It comes apart about halfway through, losing a very difficult tonal balance. Having said that, there's more to like here than the studio burial would have you believe.
While clowns are scary to many, filmmakers Christopher Ford and Jon Watts give the white-faced subject matter behind this loathsome horror movie only a cursory exploration; the result isn't much fun.
[Blu-ray Review] Classy and icky, atmospheric and chilling, "Clown" astutely plays into the unknown mystique coulrophobia is made of. Highly recommended.
It's hard to not recommend a film that's so unique, clever and ballsy in nature. Clown is still a great weekend rental, especially for horror fans sick of the generic crap being unloaded on a weekly basis.
Even as the movie wavers uncomfortably between outright comedy and subversive horror, Clown certainly paves the way for future genre film endeavors from the rising director.
I would ask any up-and-coming special-effects artist: Just because you can mold a convincing replica of a 6-year-old's severed arm, does it necessarily mean that you should?
