Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Dir: Stephen Chiodo

1988

****

Watching The Chiodo Brothers’ hilarious 1988 sci-fi-horror-comedy-cult-classic as a young teen was quite the revelation. I had never appreciated that a film could be both scary and funny at the same time, which confused and delighted me in equal measure – and still does. It felt like Joe Dante had gone bad via a 1950s B-movie and had lost the plot somewhat. It’s one of those film where you wonder whether the idea or the title came first. It starts out very 1950s, at least the 1980s version of the 1950s, which is the best kind of 1950s, apart from the actual 1950s. 1950s B-Movies are awesome, I love them dearly but there is something just as pleasing and just as brilliant as the 1950s B-Movies tributes that the 1980s produced. I guess it’s because they’re kindred spirits, as 1950s B-Movies were motion picture adaptations made by directors who felt nostalgic for the pulp fiction and sci-fi magazines they read as children growing up in the 20s and 30s, just as 80s directors were influenced by their 1950s films. There were brand new special effects in the 80s that could improve on the cheap and charming look of the 50s B-movies and they could be made in colour. The reason we are unlikely to see B-Movies of this ilk ever again however is that special effects have now become so good, there is little charm to be had. B-Movies post 1995 are generally CGI abominations and have nothing close to charm. Back in the day the lack of special effects made film makers creative, whether it be in model making, design, make-up, costume and camera trickery. However, by 1988 the 1950s inspired 1980s movie had almost run its course, parody had always been a part of it but now more than ever. Many of the 50s B-movies had sensational titles to lure in a curious audience but many of them didn’t deliver on what the title promised. The posters were pretty misleading too. So when I saw Killer Klowns from Outer Space on the shelf of my local video shop I was immediately drawn to it. I may have been naive to the wonders of horror comedies but at nearly 10 years old I knew what false promise was. I also knew that the guy in the shop couldn’t give a damn who he rented films out to. I’m not sure he even understood the BBFC rating system, this was probably because my local video shop was connected to a pharmacy, who rented VHS on the side. I could see that the film clearly had Killer Klowns in it from the stills on the back cover and they clearly had a spaceship too, so I was sold. The Clowns (Klowns) were funny and awkward looking, and then terrifying when they had to be. I never had a clown phobia but I could understand people that did, thanks to this movie (and of course Stephen King’s IT but that hadn’t come out at this point). It all begins in similar territory, a farmer spots a UFO landing near his small town. He initially thinks it is Halley’s Comet (which dates the film somewhat, as Halley’s Comet had been visible in 1986 and was the subject of school projects around the world) but is surprised to find a circus tent instead of a fiery ball of ….fire. It was one of those surreal moments in cinema that was both playfully bizarre but strangely terrifying. Victims find themselves cocooned in candy floss and popcorn and attacked by balloon animals. It’s got an Invaders from Mars feel about it, with an element of Bobysnatchers and of course the terror that strikes one in five kids when taken to the circus. The methods the Killer Klowns use to lure people to their deaths are brilliant; gruesome but also hilarious. Highlights include one of the Klowns being arrested, the puppet show from hell, popcorn monsters, sexy killer Klowns, the inevitable pie-in-face gag and Klownzilla. They have pretty cool ray guns too. It has cult written all over it and unlike most films, it actually gets better with age. The puppetry and costumes are second to none, the balance between brilliant and utter crap is perfect and I think that’s why it is still so well received. It’s a surreal parody that works; it’s funny and frightening, with that extra bit originality. The sequel has been long mooted and remains in development hell, there is definitely a market as long as they don’t make it a CGI fest, so I’m confident it will see the light of day. Here’s hoping anyway.