No clowning around. Almost surprisingly, Clown in a Cornfield is killer fun.

In Clown in a Cornfield, we meet Quinn Maybrook (Katie Douglas) as she and her father move into the small town of Kettle Springs after the death of her mother. But Quinn quickly discovers that the kids in town aren’t alright, at least according to the adults. Blamed for everything that goes wrong, the youth don’t get any respect (so they don’t give any either). However, when Frendo, a clown-faced symbol of the town’s success, begins hunting teenagers, they must fight to survive the night and escape with their lives.

Co-written and directed by Eli Craig, Clown in a Cornfield is a tribute to the slasher horror films that defined the 1980s. As this crop of young people find themselves caught up in a murderous rampage, one can’t help but feel Craig’s love of teens slashers like Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th. As the bodies mount, there’s a certain glee that builds with the creativity of each kill that entertains with bloody enthusiasm.

And, of course, there’s that darn clown.

In some ways, it’s almost hilarious how clowns have been used most effectively within the horror genre. After all, these are people who are meant to be associated with childlike fun. But now, they’re often generally associated with our darkest fears. Here, unrelenting violence of Frendo—a title that suggests safety—offers anything but his name’s sake. Bloody and brutal, Frendo stalks the youth of Kettle Springs with relentless terror and glee.

Though it’s also worth noting that the film never loses its sense of humour either. Even in scenes that are meant to be the most intense, Craig is willing to wink at the audience. From the opening squeak of clown shoes, the terror of a killer clown undercuts the tension to a certain degree. And, strangely, that adds to the fun of the murderous mayhem.

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After all, Cornfield’s real problems lie within the town itself. Despite the film’s ‘down home’ atmosphere, there’s an angst that’s bubbling up from within. Even in the dark corners, Craig uses the warm hues of golden crops to create an aura of mid-Western innocence. But he also reminds us that not all is well in the simmering pot that is Kettle Springs.

With the town’s 100th celebration approaching, the townsfolk cannot wait to express their deep love of the traditions of the past. The love their home to be a place of law and order and, most of all, quiet reverence. But Kettle Springs is also a town in transition. After the factory burned to the ground, the area has fallen on hard times, something that the adults struggle to admit. Even though the town is falling apart, the adults remember how good things used to be and they ache to keep that spirit alive.

Added to this tension is the rising snarky attitude of its young people. In a town that prides itself on ‘good ole, small town values’, this generation seem to have no respect for their elders. In an area devoted to its vast farmland, it’s the next generation who are viewed as the bad seeds. They drink, smoke and, most offensively, make internet videos mocking the town’s beloved clown mascot. Although they’re just trying to figure out ‘who they are’, their perceived rebelliousness doesn’t hold sway with the older townspeople who blame them for everything wrong with the world.

And that’s the real battle going on within this Cornfield. By highlighting the tension between generations, Craig points to the fear that can occur during a time of change. Here, the townspeople who have watched the world shift in front of their eyes feel a deep sense of loss. They feel that they know what matters and that it’s the new ways that are the problem.

To be fair, not every adult hates what’s new. But every one of them struggles with it.

In that spirit, there’s a certain political subtext that undergirds Craig’s film, especially at a time of great division. It’s not that the young people are always doing everything right. It’s simply that they want it to be constantly told that they’re not doing everything wrong. These youth don’t want to be blamed for things that aren’t their fault and they want to figure out what it means to live their lives the best way that they know how in a new world.

Admittedly, Clown in a Cornfield may not be for everyone. But it’s got such a spirit of over-indulgent vengeance that one can’t help but enjoy the fun. This is classic slasher silliness at its best and those willing to visit the town should find themselves having a ‘good ole’ time in the process.

Clown in a Cornfield is available in theatres on Friday, May 9th.