Why are there 48 Killer Klowns From Outer Space products for sale on Spirit Halloween’s website? How did this standalone film enter our modern-day Halloween zeitgeist?
Nothing but mad respect for KKFOS. The Chiodos had to have been obtusely virtuous in their past lives to be as gifted with practical effects as they are - those klown costumes had me considering a night light well into my teens.
Genuinely smart stuff on a genre level, too; it's one thing to take advantage of the agreed-upon "clowns are scary" sentiment for a horror film, but it's quite another to take circus-adjacent novelties that are still widely associated with fun and joy (cotton candy, shadow puppets, what have you) and twist them into pretty gruesome tools of death. It seems goofy, and it certainly is on a number of levels, but the fear-factor of that psychological subversion shouldn't be underestimated.
The costumes and props are SO good. That's my main sticking point for the reboot: If they use practical effects for the klowns, there's a lot of potential there. The Dark Crystal series and even Alien: Romulus leaned into it so I'm hopeful Gosling's team will too.
I have been into this total classic flick since it came out of the theaters back in the day. The Chiodo Brothers have always been geniuses. Great review!
I think that is absolutely it. People are just into the spooky clowns concept, and don't know it's a movie. (with some exceptions) There is a house in my neighborhood that does a decent Killer Klowns showing at Halloween. Always gives me a smile.
It's such a unique legacy for a cult film, but I love that it's happening. I hope the reboot miniseries (if it happens) puts even more Klowns merch on those Spirit Halloween shelves!
Killer Klowns is permanently seared in my memory as the only VHS cover at Video Americain that ever scared me. In a world where vaguely Halloween themed stuff is the subculture with the widest IRL retail presence and lowest barrier to entry, it isn't surprising that the IP of KK has taken on a life of its own. Is it like Breakfast at Tiffany's-- a movie where the merch became ubiquitous but no one has actually watched it all the way through?
Nothing but mad respect for KKFOS. The Chiodos had to have been obtusely virtuous in their past lives to be as gifted with practical effects as they are - those klown costumes had me considering a night light well into my teens.
Genuinely smart stuff on a genre level, too; it's one thing to take advantage of the agreed-upon "clowns are scary" sentiment for a horror film, but it's quite another to take circus-adjacent novelties that are still widely associated with fun and joy (cotton candy, shadow puppets, what have you) and twist them into pretty gruesome tools of death. It seems goofy, and it certainly is on a number of levels, but the fear-factor of that psychological subversion shouldn't be underestimated.
The costumes and props are SO good. That's my main sticking point for the reboot: If they use practical effects for the klowns, there's a lot of potential there. The Dark Crystal series and even Alien: Romulus leaned into it so I'm hopeful Gosling's team will too.
Footnote 8 is devastating
I fear it will haunt me for the rest of my days.
I have been into this total classic flick since it came out of the theaters back in the day. The Chiodo Brothers have always been geniuses. Great review!
Thanks so much Greg! There's definitely some genius stuff on display here. Wish they'd gotten to make several of these things in their prime.
I think that is absolutely it. People are just into the spooky clowns concept, and don't know it's a movie. (with some exceptions) There is a house in my neighborhood that does a decent Killer Klowns showing at Halloween. Always gives me a smile.
It's such a unique legacy for a cult film, but I love that it's happening. I hope the reboot miniseries (if it happens) puts even more Klowns merch on those Spirit Halloween shelves!
I had thought the "K" thing was the result of some uncorrected typos...
It wouldn't shock me if that was the case. People were so lazy back then. 😂
Killer Klowns is permanently seared in my memory as the only VHS cover at Video Americain that ever scared me. In a world where vaguely Halloween themed stuff is the subculture with the widest IRL retail presence and lowest barrier to entry, it isn't surprising that the IP of KK has taken on a life of its own. Is it like Breakfast at Tiffany's-- a movie where the merch became ubiquitous but no one has actually watched it all the way through?
That's a great comp that I would've never considered. If only we'd gotten a catch 90s pop song about Killer Klowns!
(This reminds me of one of my favorite Letterboxd lists: https://boxd.it/XB7M)