**Potential mild spoilers**
Like a great many people, "normal people", I find clowns to be exceptionally creepy. I am adamant that clowns have never, ever been funny. So when I saw that this movie was about a clown it was an easy decision to watch it. So, was this clown based horror worthy of a Pennywise, a Twisty, a Captain Spaulding or a disappointing cut rate clown that you might find in the circus getting into or out of a clown car. I am pleased to say he scores high on the creepometer. (not a real word)
The film begins with a lady reporter interviewing the lone survivor of a massacre by Art the clown. The survivor is a woman with horrific facial injuries. Her face is basically missing. After the interview is over the reporter goes back to her dressing room where she is attacked and killed by the disfigured woman. The movie then focuses upon two young women making their way home after a night out on the town. They notice the creepy clown standing across the road from their car. One of the women shouts at him thinking it is a Halloween prank. They decide to go to a local pizzeria, the clown follows them. After spreading his stool over the bathroom wall the owner of the pizzeria throws him out. The clown returns to the pizzeria and starts his killing spree. Will anyone survive the night?
There is no denying that Art the clown is creepy. The performance of the actor playing him is phenomenal, particularly when you consider he has no lines. He doesn't speak, so there is a lot of mime. Yes a creepy clown that mimes, double creepy! The acting of the rest of the cast is generally good, allbeit with the odd exception, but nothing so bad it takes you out of the movie. The special effects are also of a decent standard and there is quite a bit of gore so gore hounds should be pleased. The plot is a simple one, creepy clowns kill people. My problem with the plot is that with the ending, that any horror fan should see coming, we are given two "twists" but they are so sign posted they have little impact. It was as if they decided, we have a simple plot, so we need a good twist, and somone else said, no we need two! Lastly, and this is something that I personally find infuriating, when the villain is knocked out, or on the ropes, no one finishes him off. If you are going to go down the road of victims fighting back, make it believable.
There is a lot to enjoy in this movie, and for the casual horror movie viewer it will be effective. For the veteran horror movie fans amongst us we may well enjoy it, but the ending will not have the same impact.
7 out of 10
Summary: good movie about a killer clown, let down by ending.