Customer Reviews

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

5 star:		(151)
4 star:		(75)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

It's hard to believe that an innocuous PG-13 B-movie such as the Chiodo Bros. underrated masterpiece "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" could instill a sense of mysterious dread and thrills to an inveterate horror fan like myself. The Klowns definitely break down the redundant slasher film villian barriers that ran rampant during the 80's and give a frighteningly original, yet humorous flair to their evil work that parallels the old alien invasion films of the 50's (right down to the backwoods farmer and his dog and to the overly-skeptical village police). These extraterrestial jokesters are by no means makers of fun merriment, but rather ravenous predators who hoodwink their victims with circus magic and sinister smiles.

The first time I viewed this acclaimed cult classic, John Mussari's ominous circus synth soundtrack, grizzled Officer Mooney (John Vernon) turned into a klown merrionette, and the corrosive cream pie death of the security guard each made a frightful impact on me! Not only that, I developed a short-lived repulsion to cotton candy after seeing the homicidal Klowns in action! Now, that I'm older, wiser, and even more desensitized, I've begun to see "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" as 70% comedy/30% horror since this film does boast some of the most baffoonish dialogue and action I've seen in a B-movie. Mike (Grant Cramer), Officer Mooney, and the hilariously inept Terrenzi Bros. (Peter Licassi & Mike Siegel) give just the right amount of comedic chemistry needed against the story's spooky premise. The Klowns themselves do offer a couple of cheesy chuckles via the duplicitous "child's play" antics they use to capture and expunge the town populace for their own vampiric food supply. And one just cannot get over the elaborately designed circus tent sets, props, and klown costumes! The theme song video feature by The Dickies is also pretty darn cool. All in all, this indelible pic proves that 1988 was a gem year for the horror genre.

I have been fortunate enough to obtain a previously-viewed copy of KKFOS this year after a near-exhaustive search on the Web! I found it through Amazon's zShop site, which may still have some English-version copies left (knowing that this film has become a rare find both in retail and rental). I wish Media Home Entertainment/HVG Video would get off their languid behinds and re-release the Klowns on VHS widescreen or DVD seeing that the Killer Klowns cult is bigger than they probably realize.

Believe it or not, a Klown sequel is in the planning stages according to the Chiodo Bros' official website (as well as a coveted email I received last year from Stephen himself)...so keep on watching the skies for more intergalatic Big Top mayhem and laughs!

Anybody who says all the best B-movies came from the fifties obviously hasn't seen this little gem. It really is an admirable piece of film making which is actually very clever and inventive. It is reminiscent in someways of The Blob (50s version)in that a teenage couple witness a "comet" fall from the sky and then spend the movie running around trying to get people to believe them. However, this is far more "tongue in cheek" than most movies in its genre and could almost be passed as a black comedy rather than a horror.

The movie isn't particularly scary, although I do remeber finding it very freaky when I was younger. People who have a phobia of clowns should probably stay away from this movie though, because as the title suggests thay are the stars of the show. It is worth watching for the inventive and amusing ways in which the "Klowns" Kill and cocoon their victims alone. But as it happens the film also has a lot more to offer as well. Try as hard as you can to get hold of this movie because it really is a classic. It took me a couple of years of searching but now i've got it and it was definately worth the effort.

Don't be put off by the incorrect reviewer claiming this DVD will be pan-and-scan fullscreen. It will not. The product description confirms this. If you actually read it, it does say "Widescreen".

According to the press releases from MGM, the DVD will be a full Special Edition and presented in anamorphic widescreen (16:9 enhanced) in the 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio.

Additional features on the DVD: deleted scenes, a storyboard gallery, a photo gallery, the original theatrical trailer, a "making-of" documentary (supposedly with "home-movie" footage), director's commentary by the Chiodo Brothers, behind-the-scenes material on composing the film's score, a visual effects commentary, a "director's reflection on the film", English/French/Spanish Mono Audio (it was mono in the theaters), and French/Spanish subtitles.

Maybe the VHS is 1.33:1 full frame. I don't know because I don't buy VHS any more. Regardless, the DVD should be quite nice for fans of the film.

The fullscreen version is probably just unmatted anyway (not really P&S). Wait for the disc to compare.

In the endless effort to expand my vast array of cult/trash-cinema "classics", I decided to give the Killer Klowns™ a whirl. What I saw was one of the most bizarre and absurd flicks I've ever laid eyes on! Needless to say, this one's definitely a "keeper" for my DVD shelf, filed right next to Flash Gordon™ and The Thing With Two Heads™! The whole flick is so unbelievably ridiculous, you just can't help but be entertained by it!

Indeed, it has it all: A preposterous premise that somehow got approved by the studio suits. Less-than-stellar acting by a few of the principals, and the "hero" playing his part a little too straight-laced. The perversion of various implements of klownery into weapons of annihilation. Silly klown antics gone horribly wrong. It's ludicrously fun to watch on those days when some pretentious bit of "serious" avant-garde celluloid simply ain't gonna cut it.

The special features included with the movie are of the standard type you'd expect to see on a Collector's Edition DVD. There's behind-the-scenes featurettes, a theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, and a commentary track by the movie's creators. In the secondary track, the Chiodo brothers go over the usual stuff you'd expect to hear in a commentary track, including their childhood dreams of becoming to be movie-makers, discussions about how many of the characters were based on childhood friends, memories of the actors that played the various roles, and certain scenes that were particularly difficult to film. Throw in a few quasi-tangential anecdotes, and (voila) you have the Killer Klowns™ Kommentary Trakk in a nutshell.

Then there's the "Easter Egg" materials, which pop up when you let the main menu display run for a couple of minutes. Sadly, these "extra" extras aren't all that impressive. The only items here is a re-dub of a line from the movie, and a few video snippets of people auditioning for the roles of the Klowns in full costume. No offense to all you Klown-o-philes out there, but I think I'd get more excited watchin' paint dry than look at these not-so-special "treats"...

`Late

Released at the tale end of the 80s slasher movie smothered era, the direct to video monster movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space was a breath of fresh air for the stagnating horror genre. Alternating between unashamed goofiness and actual creepiness, this seemingly unworkable concept of having a race of silly yet very dangerous alien 'clowns' who drop out of the sky one night to scoop up a small town's populace for a quick snack. As one of the Chiodo brothers says, "It's The Blob, but with clowns."

And that it is. Killer Klowns from Outer Space plays the classic 50s monster movie scenario with a sure hand. The Killer Klowns seem overly goofy when first introduced in their Circus Tent Spaceship - they use a balloon animal bloodhound to track the escaping teens, shoot popcorn guns instead of ray guns, throw pies, and cocoon their victims in Cotton Candy pods or storage balloons for later cooking. But once they get to work the laughter gets a bit nervous, for these Klowns love to play with their food.

MGM/UA has done a wonderful job on the disc, jamming it with tons of behind the scenes footage, interviews, bloopers, and commentary. We even get to see the Chiodo Brothers first attempt at home movies, which is a treat. The only oversight is the music video of the theme song, performed by The Dickies - so don't throw out those old videos or laserdiscs just yet. Still, this release is a must have for any monster movie enthusiast. I give it my highest recommendation.

Being afraid of clowns is a very common occurrence. This movie gives new reasons to be afraid. The entire idea of clowns is explored and twisted into a wonderful story of alien clowns invading a small town.

Balloons, popcorn, cotton candy, shadow puppets, pies in the face, and even the big top are all twisted into sinister ideals. One character makes a statement wondering if the Ancient Astronaut idea could be applied and these aliens are the basis for our whole idea of clowns.

In a typical B-movie move, a pair of teens at a make-out location are the first to encounter the aliens. They are not believed by the local police (one older officer who hates college kids and the other who dated one of the first witnesses). But the truth soon comes out as the aliens step up their invasion.

The DVD has a clear picture and a couple of interesting deleted scenes (just leave the main menu on your screen for a few minutes and the Easter Egg menu will pop up), making of features, other short animated films and other stuff. The one this I was disappointed about was it did not include the music video for the title song (available on one of the VHS editions). The video has some further scenes of "Big Top Burgers" and the clown with the big hammer (and we get to see just what it does).

A wonderful film that is pretty seamless and follows its internal logic well. Funny and creepy. A real must-see.

A small subgenre of horror films and literature exists in which one overriding principle dominates: clowns are scary. Think about it for a minute. We've got Stephen King's seminal 1986 novel involving a group of kids battling a cosmic evil that disguises itself in the garb of a clown, subsequently turned into a made for television miniseries a few years later starring Tim Curry as the titular grease painted monster. Then there's Victor Salva's low budget shocker, "Clownhouse," about some kids who run into a trio of criminals disguised as clowns. But the best known film involving evil clowns is undoubtedly "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," a movie that seamlessly blends broad comedy with genuine chills and thrills. Personally, I don't find clowns frightening unless you count the time Roger Moore donned floppy footwear and a red nose in one of his Bond films. But I guess I can understand why some would recoil in fear when confronted by large men with white faces and red smiles, especially if you're a three or four year old kid. Anyway, that's enough with the obligatory paragraph in which I attempt to set some sort of context. Let's move on to the review, shall we?

MGM saw fit to release a special edition "Killer Klowns" disc, and it's a good thing they did. This is one fun ride. The movie starts with the arrival of an odd-looking spacecraft, one shaped like a gigantic circus tent of all things, somewhere in small town America. Right from the start we learn that the occupants of this weird craft resemble not at all the touchy-feely sort of extraterrestrial we saw in films like "E.T." These aliens obviously intend to harm any hapless humans with the temerity to investigate the landing of the craft, as evidenced by what happens to a local hick when he takes his dog out to the landing site for a look. Unfortunately, or fortunately considering the outcome of the film, a couple of youngsters also witness the craft arcing through the sky. Enter Mike Tobacco (Grant Cramer) and his girlfriend Debbie Stone (Suzanne Snyder). They were sitting in their car playing tonsil hockey when the spaceship landed nearby. Intrepid Mike immediately wants to investigate, and the reluctant Debbie goes along. The two discover the craft, manage to infiltrate the vessel, and discover a most disturbing find wrapped in what looks like cotton candy. Oh dear. Knowing something is seriously amiss, Mike and Debbie soon find themselves trying to warn the townspeople of the horror from beyond the sky.

Their task faces many difficulties. First, the only allies they can rely on are Rich and Paul Terenzi (Michael Siegel and Peter Licassi respectively), two girl crazy dolts that drive an ice cream truck for a living. Debbie and Mike certainly can't count on the local cops for assistance, at least not initially. The chief of police, Curtis Mooney (John Vernon channeling his Dean Wormer character from "Animal House"), is a hostile man constantly railing against local troublemakers. His main man at the precinct house, Dave Manson (John Allen Nelson), is also unreliable since he once dated Debbie and thus cannot stand Mike's presence. The inability to muster help allows the aliens to sweep into town on a mission of conquest. We soon learn that these extraterrestrials dress and look like clowns, but with a twist. They're hateful creatures with mouths full of nasty looking teeth whose goal involves collecting human beings for food. The aliens use all the clown tricks of the trade--cotton candy, balloons, little cars, shadow puppets, and magic tricks--to capture men, women, and children. Debbie and Mike must avoid the clowns, marshal their forces, and once again penetrate the spaceship in order to save the human race from possible extinction.

"Killer Klowns from Outer Space" works as well as it does by deftly blending humor with horror. The clowns are fun to watch, especially when they're luring human beings to their doom. Imagine popcorn that turns into nasty looking beasties with razor sharp teeth, shadow puppets that can swallow up people, and a biker gang that learns the hard way about messing around with these clowns. Fun stuff, even if none of it is particularly scary. What IS scary, at least in my opinion, are the occasional scenes that really send shivers down the spine. That silent clown and the little girl at the restaurant are deliciously eerie, but even this pales in comparison to what I rank as the best scene in the film. It involves Officer Mooney and a clown, and it's bone-chilling stuff. I still shudder every time I see the film and hear Mooney's voice in this particular scene. Just as effective are the set pieces inside the ship, which look like they cost far more than they probably did. That the makers of the movie, the Chiodo brothers, managed to pull off this unusual blend of horror and comedy on such a meager budget speaks well of their talent.

Since MGM gives us a special edition disc, there are plenty of extras to peruse after the film concludes. We get a commentary track, deleted scenes, a trailer, stills, audition tapes, bloopers, and five featurettes containing behind the scenes footage, interviews with the Chiodo brothers, and lots of other fun stuff. "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" is must see viewing for fans of cult cinema, and it's not a bad choice for general horror fans who relish the idea of seeing some chills balanced with a few laughs. The movie is definitely five star material. I'm hoping against hope that the disc sold well enough to merit a sequel. We'll probably never see a follow up film, but I can hope anyway, can't I?

this movie is awesome. especially if ur intoxicated. this movie is such a trip. i remember watchin this when i was little. great comedy/horror. watch this with ur homies and they'll love it. buy this movie!

I am sure this movie is familiar to any horror genre loving person. Its a b movie for sure, but one that is hard to say no to. Not for its special effects or stellar acting, mind you, but for its shear laughable plot. Killer Klowns come to a small town to wreak havoc with their popcorn guns and to drink blood from their captives, who are spun in cotton candy cocoons. And though you may find yourself snickering, you can't turn it off. I personally love this movie and couldn't resist the low price tag attached to it. The DVD itself its nothing spectacular, average sound and picture quality and no extras out of the ordinary. But what did you expect, although you may like the movie, you couldn't have expected them to put alot of money or effort into it. Its a B movie, but with an A attraction all its own. If you like, buy it, its worth it.

My first experience with "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" (and for about 4 ensuing years later) was one of terrifying surprise! I came across puppet FX wunderkind Steven Chiodo's film on HBO back in 1989 and decided to give it a try. "How bad could an extraterrestial clown invasion in the 1980's B-movie world be?", I thought. Even now, I definitely take those words back! For a campy PG-13 horror film, "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" does pack enough (albeit sometimes silly) stamina to be a respectable thriller. Chiodo did go to appreciable lengths to warp the innocuously age-old fun ideals we may have had towards clowns and the circus as kids. Everything from cotton candy to popcorn to balloons to pies in the face is given a caustic, tongue-in-cheek twist as the choice of weapons for the Killer Klowns. Also, the captivating tactics the Klowns use to lure their naive, hapless victims (from puppet shows to finger shadows) make an ominously (yet predictably) fun touch. Finally, the sythesizer/rock score, set designs, and use of exuberant striped colors, pokadots, and shadows really added a dimension of mysterious dread in this flick! Basically, "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" follows your formulaic sci-fi B-movie. Two college kids, Mike (Grant Cramer) & Debbie ("Weird Science's" Suzanne Snyder), are the first humans to uncover an uncanny alien invasion by the Klowns after misconstruing their circus tent spacecraft laden with bloody persons encapsulated in cotton candy cocoons for a comet. Obviously, they try to convince the police of their harrowing discovery with no success (thanks to a comicly gruff John Vernon). Soon, the Klowns make their way into town and ubiquitously kill every citizen with their man-eating popcorn, cotton candy phasor guns, and other "child's play" antics with no remorse in sight! Sure enough, it's up to Mike and his friends to put the Klowns' killing spree/feeding frenzy to a halt. The Klowns actually feast on the blood of their cotton candy pod victims, which I find sickenly cool! The action that transpires is a manic, roller coaster ride of both humor and terror. Call me a whimp for thinking of "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" as scary. But then again, I thought "Scream" was just pathetic Gen-X hot air!