Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Haunted Maze’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There is nothing better than going to a haunted house with your friends, mainly because you can help enhance the frights if someone does not seem scared enough. I got in on the haunted house craze in my youth as I had some babysitters that did not want to stay in during the Halloween time of year and while I might have had some sleepless nights, looking back, it was good for me. Starting to figure out the scares that were coming my way was the greatest thing in my mind and while I don’t get too frightened during these events much anymore, I still love to get my heart pumping. If you have not done this with your friends yet, even if you don’t like to be scared, it is highly recommended, it can be used as a bonding activity.
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Getting picked up from a burning barn, Clancy ‘The Clown’ Keller has been put in custody and is awaiting questioning. Having Detectives Cole and Edwards coming with a barrage of questions concerning the whereabouts of some missing kids, they believe that they have Clancy backed into a corner. Admitting nothing, not even to knowing who the kids are, Edwards plugs in the security cam footage and allows Clancy to see what most people would associate with pure guilt. Lighting up a cigarette and watching as the tapes play out, Clancy seems to be more at ease than ever, but that may not last.

With a new carnival rolling into town, friends Elizabeth, Marci, Paige, Jordan, Ben, Hunter and Alana are ready to have a good time. After riding all of the rides that the carnival has to offer them, it is time for the Haunted Maze, but there is something strange about the clown standing outside. As the kids enter the maze, they find some of the normal scares that they have come to expect, but there is one more that they are not counting on as Clancy is keeping a close eye on them. Taking an alternate route through the maze, the kids find themselves needing to take a slide to safety, but it may lead them to their doom.

With the tapes showing that Clancy is lying about knowing the kids, Edwards and Cole still do not have enough proof and need the clown to confess to what happened to the missing kids. Bringing up his past, Clancy is forced to re-live the day his father went crazy and killed a classroom of children, leaving only his son to carry on his legacy. Knowing that the cops are not able to keep him without any proof, Clancy is able to keep his guilt hidden deep inside of his mind and before they are able to get a direct answer as to what happened, they are forced to let the clown go. With plenty to be thankful for, including his sisters, Clancy has a new prize from the carnival, one that he will never forget.

Okay, I have reviewed a couple of clown movies now, and this one might take the cake. While there is some good carnage going on around the carnival, that was not scary, Clancy ‘The Drooling Clown’ Keller was just a piece of work and might keep me from going to an event that has clowns involved. Not even bending to the questions the police are asking him, he can care less about what they can prove about his guilt, because he knows that there is no footage of him really doing anything to harm the children. I kind of wish that there was a little bit more to the missing kids, while they have some cute conversations, the only thing I remember about them is that Elizabeth hates clowns. That’s okay, since I think that this is more of a portrait of a serial killer than anything else and Clancy ‘The Clown’ Keller is really the star of the show. With a carnival, a creepy clown, an axe, three creepy sisters, missing teens, and a finale that had me cheering for the clown, this movie might keep you up at night if you have a fear of clowns, but if you are like me, you will love to see someone finally chopping that wood. Stay Scared.

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