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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 andstare open-mouthed in bewildered joy. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (165)

Thank you, Chiodo Bros....at long last!
Attention, all beloved Killer Klown cult fans! Our all-time favorite homicidal, bloodthirsty, and cotton candy-weaving bozos from beyond will finally be receiving their long-overdue video re-release this fall! I especially want to thank Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo for listening ardently to their legion of loyal fans and being able to bring their hideous big-top wonders back since their hitting of the silver screen 12 years earlier! Only one question: how come no DVD or VHS widescreen versions? The art direction in this classic black comedy really warrants a 1.85:1 canvas, not to mention a Dolby Digital remastering to accentuate the Klowns' chilling chuckles and John Mussari's sinister musical score!

Okay, for those of you who have been living in a secluded cave since 1988, KKFOS is a must-have film for any seasoned B-horror movie buff. It is the uncanny tale of a coastal California town that becomes beseiged by a pernicious race of alien klowns that cruises through the galaxies in a circus-tent starship and has an insatiable appetite for human blood. These wily, vile bozos arrive with an arsenal of mutagenic popcorn, lethal cotton candy phasors, acidic cream pies, and many other deadly circus tricks they deploy in order to capture and harvest the town's dullard citizens as cotton-candy-cocooned snack munchies. Only a clique of college kids and a rookie cop are aware of the klowns' nefarious plan, and they must do all they can in order to save the village from a fate that's no laughing matter! Sure, the plot to KKFOS sounds like a 1950's sci-fi derivative, but it is accompanied with impressive costume design, whimsical art direction, and captivating make-up and puppetry effects from Fantasy II F/X ("The Terminator", "The Abyss") that really exploit the low budgetary constraints that were imposed on this indie masterpiece. The real fear in KKFOS comes from taking the benevolent attributes of clowns and the circus and inverting them into elements of a child's warped nightmare. However, it does have its fair share of baffoonish comedy (most notable are the goofy Terrenzi Bros) to balance out the freaky death scenes. John Vernon definitely gives a hammy, but hysterical performance as Officer Mooney, the embittered police chief who scoffs the idea of murderous klowns in his town...until they finally make a "dummy" out of him, literally! All of this comes in a PG-13 package with no nudity and only mild "ketchup gore" for the audience.

One thing's for sure about KKFOS re-release, I'll be well-insured when my original Media Home Entertainment VHS copy becomes irreparably worn-out, which is almost certain to happen soon! Also, I just cannot wait until the sequel finally comes out (hopefully by next year)!

A Fatally Funny & Scary Ride Through The Big Top...
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!

So Bad It's Good!
If you like your movies with extra cheese then this is just the movie for you. It's probably one of the worst and corniest I've ever seen but that's what makes it so entertaining. Perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon or if you are in the mood for a light movie with goofy humor. Definiately not Oscar material but then again it was never meant to be.

A deserved cult classic
Here's a film that really delivers on the title. They say Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and boy do they deliver the killer clowns. Satanic clown cars, deadly shadow puppets, killer balloon animals ... these filmmakers put some real thought into what it means to be a killer clown from outer space.

This is one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

Balloon dogs are vicious!!!!
Awww, man, the only thing that sucks about this movie is that is failed to attract my attention back in the late 80's! I wish I had seen it back then, because by now it would not only be a great fun movie, but also have that additional nostalgic factor to it. But regardless, there's still enough 80's atmosphere and cheese to daze my brain. That and the movie is actually pretty good. I'm a huge fan of movies that take place in one day/night. This movie takes place all in one night, is all shot during the night hours, so there's none of that pesky mood-killing daylight to worry about. I may have missed this back in the 80's, but at least they have it on DVD now, and it looks great. I just finished watching it the second time. Also, the commentary by the Chiodo brothers is entertaining and funny. What a miracle it was that the executives okay'ed this movie! Too bad movie producers don't seem to have the guts these days to take shots on such wild ideas. I keep hearing the brothers are going to make a sequel (that would rock!), but the rumor has been spinning for years now. C'mon, we want more Killer Klowns! Come back, Klowns, come back - earth needs you! :) ... Read more

Reviews (165)

Thank you, Chiodo Bros....at long last!
Attention, all beloved Killer Klown cult fans! Our all-time favorite homicidal, bloodthirsty, and cotton candy-weaving bozos from beyond will finally be receiving their long-overdue video re-release this fall! I especially want to thank Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo for listening ardently to their legion of loyal fans and being able to bring their hideous big-top wonders back since their hitting of the silver screen 12 years earlier! Only one question: how come no DVD or VHS widescreen versions? The art direction in this classic black comedy really warrants a 1.85:1 canvas, not to mention a Dolby Digital remastering to accentuate the Klowns' chilling chuckles and John Mussari's sinister musical score!

Okay, for those of you who have been living in a secluded cave since 1988, KKFOS is a must-have film for any seasoned B-horror movie buff. It is the uncanny tale of a coastal California town that becomes beseiged by a pernicious race of alien klowns that cruises through the galaxies in a circus-tent starship and has an insatiable appetite for human blood. These wily, vile bozos arrive with an arsenal of mutagenic popcorn, lethal cotton candy phasors, acidic cream pies, and many other deadly circus tricks they deploy in order to capture and harvest the town's dullard citizens as cotton-candy-cocooned snack munchies. Only a clique of college kids and a rookie cop are aware of the klowns' nefarious plan, and they must do all they can in order to save the village from a fate that's no laughing matter! Sure, the plot to KKFOS sounds like a 1950's sci-fi derivative, but it is accompanied with impressive costume design, whimsical art direction, and captivating make-up and puppetry effects from Fantasy II F/X ("The Terminator", "The Abyss") that really exploit the low budgetary constraints that were imposed on this indie masterpiece. The real fear in KKFOS comes from taking the benevolent attributes of clowns and the circus and inverting them into elements of a child's warped nightmare. However, it does have its fair share of baffoonish comedy (most notable are the goofy Terrenzi Bros) to balance out the freaky death scenes. John Vernon definitely gives a hammy, but hysterical performance as Officer Mooney, the embittered police chief who scoffs the idea of murderous klowns in his town...until they finally make a "dummy" out of him, literally! All of this comes in a PG-13 package with no nudity and only mild "ketchup gore" for the audience.

One thing's for sure about KKFOS re-release, I'll be well-insured when my original Media Home Entertainment VHS copy becomes irreparably worn-out, which is almost certain to happen soon! Also, I just cannot wait until the sequel finally comes out (hopefully by next year)!

A Fatally Funny & Scary Ride Through The Big Top...
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!

So Bad It's Good!
If you like your movies with extra cheese then this is just the movie for you. It's probably one of the worst and corniest I've ever seen but that's what makes it so entertaining. Perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon or if you are in the mood for a light movie with goofy humor. Definiately not Oscar material but then again it was never meant to be.

A deserved cult classic
Here's a film that really delivers on the title. They say Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and boy do they deliver the killer clowns. Satanic clown cars, deadly shadow puppets, killer balloon animals ... these filmmakers put some real thought into what it means to be a killer clown from outer space.

This is one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

Balloon dogs are vicious!!!!
Awww, man, the only thing that sucks about this movie is that is failed to attract my attention back in the late 80's! I wish I had seen it back then, because by now it would not only be a great fun movie, but also have that additional nostalgic factor to it. But regardless, there's still enough 80's atmosphere and cheese to daze my brain. That and the movie is actually pretty good. I'm a huge fan of movies that take place in one day/night. This movie takes place all in one night, is all shot during the night hours, so there's none of that pesky mood-killing daylight to worry about. I may have missed this back in the 80's, but at least they have it on DVD now, and it looks great. I just finished watching it the second time. Also, the commentary by the Chiodo brothers is entertaining and funny. What a miracle it was that the executives okay'ed this movie! Too bad movie producers don't seem to have the guts these days to take shots on such wild ideas. I keep hearing the brothers are going to make a sequel (that would rock!), but the rumor has been spinning for years now. C'mon, we want more Killer Klowns! Come back, Klowns, come back - earth needs you! :) ... Read more

Reviews (165)

Thank you, Chiodo Bros....at long last!
Attention, all beloved Killer Klown cult fans! Our all-time favorite homicidal, bloodthirsty, and cotton candy-weaving bozos from beyond will finally be receiving their long-overdue video re-release this fall! I especially want to thank Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo for listening ardently to their legion of loyal fans and being able to bring their hideous big-top wonders back since their hitting of the silver screen 12 years earlier! Only one question: how come no DVD or VHS widescreen versions? The art direction in this classic black comedy really warrants a 1.85:1 canvas, not to mention a Dolby Digital remastering to accentuate the Klowns' chilling chuckles and John Mussari's sinister musical score!

Okay, for those of you who have been living in a secluded cave since 1988, KKFOS is a must-have film for any seasoned B-horror movie buff. It is the uncanny tale of a coastal California town that becomes beseiged by a pernicious race of alien klowns that cruises through the galaxies in a circus-tent starship and has an insatiable appetite for human blood. These wily, vile bozos arrive with an arsenal of mutagenic popcorn, lethal cotton candy phasors, acidic cream pies, and many other deadly circus tricks they deploy in order to capture and harvest the town's dullard citizens as cotton-candy-cocooned snack munchies. Only a clique of college kids and a rookie cop are aware of the klowns' nefarious plan, and they must do all they can in order to save the village from a fate that's no laughing matter! Sure, the plot to KKFOS sounds like a 1950's sci-fi derivative, but it is accompanied with impressive costume design, whimsical art direction, and captivating make-up and puppetry effects from Fantasy II F/X ("The Terminator", "The Abyss") that really exploit the low budgetary constraints that were imposed on this indie masterpiece. The real fear in KKFOS comes from taking the benevolent attributes of clowns and the circus and inverting them into elements of a child's warped nightmare. However, it does have its fair share of baffoonish comedy (most notable are the goofy Terrenzi Bros) to balance out the freaky death scenes. John Vernon definitely gives a hammy, but hysterical performance as Officer Mooney, the embittered police chief who scoffs the idea of murderous klowns in his town...until they finally make a "dummy" out of him, literally! All of this comes in a PG-13 package with no nudity and only mild "ketchup gore" for the audience.

One thing's for sure about KKFOS re-release, I'll be well-insured when my original Media Home Entertainment VHS copy becomes irreparably worn-out, which is almost certain to happen soon! Also, I just cannot wait until the sequel finally comes out (hopefully by next year)!

A Fatally Funny & Scary Ride Through The Big Top...
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!

So Bad It's Good!
If you like your movies with extra cheese then this is just the movie for you. It's probably one of the worst and corniest I've ever seen but that's what makes it so entertaining. Perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon or if you are in the mood for a light movie with goofy humor. Definiately not Oscar material but then again it was never meant to be.

A deserved cult classic
Here's a film that really delivers on the title. They say Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and boy do they deliver the killer clowns. Satanic clown cars, deadly shadow puppets, killer balloon animals ... these filmmakers put some real thought into what it means to be a killer clown from outer space.

This is one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

Balloon dogs are vicious!!!!
Awww, man, the only thing that sucks about this movie is that is failed to attract my attention back in the late 80's! I wish I had seen it back then, because by now it would not only be a great fun movie, but also have that additional nostalgic factor to it. But regardless, there's still enough 80's atmosphere and cheese to daze my brain. That and the movie is actually pretty good. I'm a huge fan of movies that take place in one day/night. This movie takes place all in one night, is all shot during the night hours, so there's none of that pesky mood-killing daylight to worry about. I may have missed this back in the 80's, but at least they have it on DVD now, and it looks great. I just finished watching it the second time. Also, the commentary by the Chiodo brothers is entertaining and funny. What a miracle it was that the executives okay'ed this movie! Too bad movie producers don't seem to have the guts these days to take shots on such wild ideas. I keep hearing the brothers are going to make a sequel (that would rock!), but the rumor has been spinning for years now. C'mon, we want more Killer Klowns! Come back, Klowns, come back - earth needs you! :) ... Read more