Eli Craig’s Clown in a Cornfield is not ground-breaking in the slightest, but it’s a slash-happy good time rooted in '90s teen horror camp! This is a film that knows exactly what it is - and leans into its absurd, over-the-top (and yes, mostly predictable) premise with confidence and glee. Much like the slasher classics it draws inspiration from (think Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer), Clown in a Cornfield keeps the fun coming with a mix of likable leads, extra brutal kills, and a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor - like a moment where two characters can’t call for help because neither can figure out how to use that damn rotary phone. But, despite the silly setup, the film has a surprisingly solid foundation, bolstered by well-timed suspense and a creeping sense of dread. Sure, it’s loaded with tropes and clichés, but they feel more like “comfort food” call-backs than lazy writing. There’s also a playful “who will survive” dynamic and a clever twist on the usual teen romance subplot. And, well, if you’ve got a fear of clowns, be warned: this one’s likely to fuel more than a few nightmares. In the end, hokey horror reigns supreme here—and thankfully, it’s executed just right. If it weren’t, we’d be laughing at the movie instead of along with it.