Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’

Written by Scott Edwards

Everybody loves a little escape and one of the most entertaining things to do with your kids is to go to the circus. With all of the animals and crazy cool showmanship that is on display, it is a shame for anyone that has not yet experienced it. I still remember going to the circus with my folks when I was little and I loved most of the attractions that were going on, but also developed a fear of something that never should have been put in front of me in the first place. Yeah, that’s right, klowns. I was deadly afraid of klowns for most of my adult life. Even though they are supposed to bring joy and happiness to the masses, they brought nightmares and torment to me and I know that I am not the only one.
​
Up on the Top of the World (make out point central), all of the young adults are having a great time before being interrupted by the Terenzi brothers, who are looking to make some extra dough by selling ice cream. When nobody wants any and their dates in the truck want to go home, their night is ruined, but it is really just beginning. Watching as a meteor flashes by in the sky, Mike and Debbie are intrigued and want to take a look.

Rolling up on what appears to be a circus tent, the couple enter it and find that it is unlike any circus tent they have ever seen before. Moving throughout and opening a strange door, the couple figures that they must be in some sort of spaceship, but when they see a couple of bodies covered in cotton candy, and flying popcorn is headed their way, they need to let someone know about it and fast. Getting to the police station and giving their report to Officer Dave, it is apparent that no one is taking them seriously.  But when a report comes in about dead bodies, Dave is forced to head out and take a look. Taking Debbie home and keeping Mike with him in the police cruiser, they are shocked to find that there is nothing left where Mike claims the spaceship was. Putting his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in custody, Dave is ready to make an example out of him.

---

While Dave and Mike are out, the small town of Cedar Cove is being terrorized by what appears to be klowns looking to help. With ways to make people smile and laugh, the klowns are able to make their way into people's homes with little to no effort. Once the trust is established, they pull out their cotton candy guns to kill, their oversized balloons to keep their victims alive and popcorn guns to reproduce. While hearing the reports around town Officer Mooney believes that there is a prank going on, but as his town is quickly being taken away, he meets one of these klowns face to face and finds out that this is no joke.
​
Heading back to town, Dave and Mike stumble upon what appears to be an abandoned Top of the World, but the cars are still there. With nobody in sight, Dave finds a jeep filled with what appears to be cotton candy and pulls out a pair of glasses that belonged to one of Mike’s now dead friends. Knowing that there is something strange going on, they rush to town, only to see one of the klowns doing his thing and taking several people away for eternity. As Dave needs to get help from the State Police, Mike is only worried about his girlfriend Debbie and rushes back to her house only to find that she has become one of their recent victims. With time running out, Mike is able to get his friends, the Terenzi brothers and Dave on the same page about what needs to be done, but where are they gonna find these terrorizing klowns?

If this was still the eighties and I was still afraid of clowns, there is no way I would be able to sit and watch this movie, I mean they are freaky as heck. Looking back however, I can why there is so much love for this movie and why the love should be growing, because it is brilliant. With your three-act storyline all laid out and some of the scariest characters you have ever seen, it has to be a horror classic at this point. I will admit that the special effects were a little strange, but come on, what else are you going to do with a ton of pies, eat them? With my fear of clowns being diminished over the years, I still am pretty frightened of them if I see them offering Free Hugs and such, but overall, I think I might be able to hold my own against one if it came down to it. With all of your favorites from the circus, cotton candy, balloons, pies, big feet, red noses and death all over the place, it is hard to find a reason not to watch this movie. Stay Scared.

---