Review #266: Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)

This review was originally written in October 2023.

Gabe's Horror Movie October Review #20 - Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

This movie is quite remarkable in that I guarantee the creation process was as streamlined as possible: Someone came up with the name "Killer Klowns from Outer Space", and then the writing, directing, costumes, special effects, and filming all followed logically from that starting point with no deviation at all.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space follows a small town beset upon by the eponymous Klowns, who show up, cause mayhem, and then leave. Our protagonists are two college kids who witness their arrival, find out the Klowns are up to no good, and try to alert the police. Cue about 45 minutes of people being Killed by clown-themed hijinx, then the protagonists go to the Klowns' ship, cue 20 more minutes of clown-themed hijinx, then everything blows up and the movie ends. There's really not much more to it than that.

This movie has to get a lot of credit for its technical work: the costumes and makeup for the Klowns are FANTASTIC, and perfectly straddle the line between goofy and terrifying. The many kills we see on screen are generally pretty hilarious, and INCREDIBLY creative. I wasn't kidding when I said earlier that they started with the "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" name and worked outward from there- over half of the movie is a constant series of vignettes that all work in the three elements of 1. deadly, 2. clown-themed, and 3. utterly alien. And because so much of the violence is absurd and cartoonish in nature, I would even recommend this film for people who are averse to gore- because, like, I dunno, I guess there's a small amount of gore in this movie (or at least a few spots that could be viewed as gore) but most of it is "a guy gets hit with pies until all that's left of him is a skeleton". And really, that kind of gore is fun for the whole family.

I don't really have much else to say about this movie, just that it has a very fun vibe, it never takes itself too seriously, and the main character is apparently named "Mike Tobacco". (Also, one of the actors playing a Klown was named "Genie Houdini".) I just thought you should know.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10 Balloon Dogs

Upcoming Media: Some time soon [by the time you are reading this, it's out!] there's going to be a Killer Klowns video game! It's going to be made by the company that made the fantastic Friday the 13th game, and will feature a similar asymmetrical multiplayer style. I'll definitely be picking it up when it comes out!