Product Details

• Actors: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon, Michael Siegel
• Directors: Stephen Chiodo
• Writers: Stephen Chiodo, Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo
• Producers: Charles Chiodo, Christopher Roth, Edward Chiodo, Helen Szabo
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: September 5, 2000
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (259 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792846710
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,160 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

What's completely and utterly baffling about Killer Klowns is not the plot--that's rather tidily summed up by the title--but the fact that it got made at all. According to the filmmakers, (the Chiodo brothers: Charles, Edward, and Stephen) all it took to convince the studio was a one-page treatment and a picture of a clown holding a gun. It boggles the mind. Anyway, some killer Klowns descend from outer space and start wrapping their hapless victims in cotton candy for later consumption. Debbie and Mike suspect something's amiss, but who will believe them? The movie's greatest asset is its willingness to play on the inherent creepiness of clowns. The Klowns are grotesque parodies of their big-top cousins, hiding hideous malformed teeth behind terrifying circus makeup. It's impossible to tell if Killer Klowns is truly meant to be scary, but it is compelling in its thoroughness: popcorn, balloon animals, and really big shoes are all used to their fullest effect. The only cast member you'll recognize immediately is veteran character actor John Vernon as Officer Mooney, but keep an eye out for Christopher Titus in a small role as Bob McReed. Then just sit back and stare open-mouthed in bewildered joy. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fatally Funny & Scary Ride Through The Big Top..., April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Klowns from Outer Space [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEQUEL PLEASE!, April 7, 2000

By 

"tee-vee-stevie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Klowns from Outer Space [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to read..., June 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (DVD)

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.